Chess ace to challenge all comers
October 17, 2007
Ray Robson, 12-year-old national chess master from Largo, will visit the Clermont Chess Club to play in a simultaneous exhibition against all challengers at noon Saturday at the Kehlor Building, 466 W. Minneola Ave., Clermont.
The purpose of the exhibition is to raise money to support Robson’s travels to Turkey from Nov. 17-29 to represent the United States and Florida in the World Youth Chess Championship.
A $20 donation is suggested to participate in the exhibition, but anyone is welcome to play for a donation of any amount.
The U.S. Chess Federation will provide $800, with another $300 coming from the Florida Chess Association, and Robson’s family must make up the difference. The total cost for him to travel to Turkey is more than $5,000.
Ray has been an occasional visitor to the Clermont Chess Club since he was 8, and other members have watched his progress.
He earned the national master title in January 2006 and has won seven national scholastic titles. He is the son of Gary and Yee-chen Robson of Largo.
Details: Paul Leggett, 352-243-8342.
Source: Orlando Sentinel
Ray Robson will also be playing in the 6th North American FIDE Invitational from Oct 28 – Nov 3 in Chicago.
Ray will be competing against a field of 9 others in hopes to gaining his first IM norm.
5000$ is too much exaggerated! For my son we paid about 780€ for the fee + full board in that 4.5 star Limra hotel. In additiona to that we have to arrange our flight via travel agency.
For the whole family the all-expense tour for two weeks through some travel agency instead of the organizer would cost only 1200€ for full board and flights (in the same hotel with the same service)!!
However, the registration for the hotel is mandatory. The organizer wants to earn money through those young players. However, it is impudent to to charge almost 3 times fee than the standard travel agency. It is criminal! However, since FIDE gets the money from the organizer, they simply encourage this practice.
I’m wondering that one one hads ever sued FIDE for that!
My feeling is that Munich is right. I’ve never traveled to Europe much less Turkey but $5000 seems excessive.
It seems odd that the USCF is only kicking in $800.
The official player (Ray) will get free hotel. His air fare to Turkey can be around $1000.
OK if one parent is going to take care of him, for another $2,000 or so.
But $5000 sounds like fundraising for a whole family holiday.