THE Fiji Chess Federation is all geared up to host their first event of the year this weekend.
The Tappoo City Open Chess Championship will be held on Level 4 of Tappoo City on Sunday following the 34th annual general meeting of the federation.
FCF president Dr Virgilio de Asa said the tournament was a round robin five-minute blitz championship.
He said the competition had been divided into senior and juniors and expected stiff rivalry in the tournament which was in its second year.
"Defending champion Candidate Master (CM) Calvin Prasad will start as top favourite, with CM Manoj Kumar, Ronald Terubea, Goru Arvind and Noel Adricula providing stiff challenges," Dr de Asa said.
"In the juniors' category, cousins Keez and Brian Terubea, Jun Adricula, Wayne Areki and Martin Feussner are top contenders," he said.
"The women's competition will see Kabrina Terubea, Hilda Vukikomoala, Jacqueline Masilomani, Wati Kado, Amy Bale and Gloria Sukhu battling it out for top honours."
He added that Maria Nemani, the events co-ordinator at Tappoo City, would provide five major prizes for the tournament.
Meanwhile, current FCF officials Dr de Asa (president), Calvin Prasad and Gloria Sukhu (vice-presidents), Goru Arvind (general secretary), Teliko Koroi (assistant secretary) and Manoj Kumar (treasurer) are returning unopposed in the AGM.
"Nominations for the five executive board members are still open and will be accepted during the meeting," Dr de Asa said.
Also, the Most Improved Player of 2012 award, 2012 Players of the Year awards and 2012 Junior Player of the Year award will all be given out on the day.