2010 World Youth Chess Championship Porto Carras, Greece: THE MEXICAN CHESS SYSTEM AND THEIR QUALIFICATION PROCESS FOR THE NORTH AMERICAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP 2009

I am about to give you an inside look into the Mexican chess system in order to explain their selection process to compete in the North American Youth Championship 2009. As you travel within the international chess system, you will see a diversity of national systems. Due to the fact that we have dual citizenship - both American and Mexican - we can explain first hand how the Mexican chess system works because our daughter Claudia, was a product of this system until she represented the United States in the North American Youth Championship 2007 and was registered with FIDE as an American.

CHESS IS A SPORT IN MEXICO BACKED BY THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT

All sports belong to the federal government through the Sport's Ministry - CONADE. There is no debate in Mexico as to whether chess is a sport or not, it is a sport and it is mostly funded by the federal, state and local governments. Since CONADE does not know chess or the chess world, they have the Mexican Chess Federation, just like the Canadian Chess Federation and the United States Chess Federation. Except, the Mexican Chess Federation (FENAMAC) is subsidized by the government. This is why the NAYCC 2009 that originally was scheduled for the University of Texas Brownsville in the United States, but due to scheduling conflicts was not able to be carried out, was so easily granted to Mexico - their federation backed by the Mexican government made it easy for them. Since the tourism industry was hard hit by the swine flu outbreak in the spring, it is easy for the government through its national chess federation to chose a major resort for its playing site. During the tournament, the Mexican government through its various departments will be pumping the press with news, we will be the news - foreigners arriving in Mexico for a major international chess tournament. Their are a total of 38-recognized sports in Mexico, completely funded by the government through its national federations and monitored by their state governments and state federations. Their main goal is to supply players for the national team.

Having said what I have stated, a child in Mexico who has proven himself at the national and international level - through medal winning - receives a financial subsidy directly from the government through a monthly deposit to their bank account. For every medal won at the National Olympics, in chess there are a total of 5-medals to be won per category in the g/90, g/30 and g/15 events, both by girls and boys only categories and mixed as well, the chessplayer and the coach recieve a financial deposit for 9-months continually. For a medal won at the Pan American Youth or World Youth, the amounts could go up from $1,000 dollars to $3,000 dollars per month for nine months for both player and coach. When the minimum salary in Mexico is about $300 dollars per month, both delegations must understand how a 10-year old child making $150 dollars per month for 9-months for having medaled at the National Olympics is an incentive. Upon winning the National Olympics, most states in Mexico place the player on a "high performance" program under training by a FIDE master at no expense to the parent.

The NAYCC 2009 is a tournament for the Mexican player in which to demonstrate to the local, state and national authorities, through results, that he should receive sponsorship from these entities. That is what both American and Canadian delegations will face - Mexican players with a desire to prove themselves.

Now the right column on this blog, where Claudia's achievements as an American playing in the Mexican system are more understandable. She went through this entire system three years in a row, and qualified to the National Olympics.

THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR TEAM MEXICO

In September there is an elimination chess tournament in every school in the nation to choose two players per category. In October, those two players per category play an elimintation tournament in a citywide tournament, two advance to regionals. In November, two from regional eliminate themselves to advance to state. In December-January, two from state eliminate themselves to advance to Pre-Nationals to play the champions and co-champions of four Mexican states which are grouped by regions - three advance to the National Olympics. In the National Olympics the top 26 players in the entire nation, by performance and not by rating, are assembled to fight to make the national chess team that will represent Mexico in the Pan American Youth Championship. As stated before, in Mexico, ratings are not important because there are few rated tournaments, numerous non-rated but few rated tournaments. In this NAYCC you will find low Mexican ratings - but do not be fooled becaue their selection process was long and proven. In the National Olympics, the gold medal winner is the official representative of Mexico with his entire expenses paid for, the second place to fifth place winners qualify but they must seek their funding by their state and local governments.

Therefore, the entire selection process to participate in a Pan American Youth begins in September and finishes in May - here is the kicker, the entire system I just explained to you is fully paid for by the local, state and national government. The chess player pays nothing. However, every child in the nation had the opportunity to participate regardless of income or region in the nation.

THE WORLD YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE OF MEXICO

The Mexican chess player that placed better in each category automatically qualifies to the World Youth Championship, which is fully paid for by the government.

THE MEXICAN REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE NAYCC 2009

The Mexican Chess Federation decided to reward the winners of each category for both boys and girls (who won the gold medal) at the Mexican Open 2009 in Toluca, Mexico with an all-expense paid trip and participation for the NAYCC 2009. However, like in all countries, the Mexican Open is not where the strongest players participate because of its nature of it being an open and the player having to pay their expenses. Their Mexican ratings are low in these groups, however, to the American and Canadian delegations, during your participation in Mexico - remove your "rating is all " thinking or serious upsets will occur.

The players that both delegations should be more concerned with are those that did not go to the Mexican Open but rather are the top 5-place winners at the National Olympics who participated in the Pan American Youth or are going to the World Youth Championship. Those 5-players per category have a rating difference of about 300 to 500 points per category. Those names are listed to you below as links. Mexico sent a small delegation to the Pan American due to the swine flu in Argentina, but promised their players to go to the World Youth Championship in Turkey.

The names provided to you at this moment are the winners of the Mexican Open and thus official representatives of Mexico for the NAYCC 2009

UNDER 8-GIRLS

1. Liahut Vallen, Ingrid Yusse (1012) 4.5/6

UNDER 8 - BOYS

1. Sandoval Mercado, Carlos (1498) 6.0/6

UNDER 10 – GIRLS

1. Romo Herrera, Ibarrola Mari (1043) 6.0/6

UNDER 10 – BOYS

1. Otamendi Munoz, Gilberto (1036) 6.0/6

UNDER 12 – GIRLS

1. Luna Medina, Mariana (1451) 5.0/6

UNDER 12 – BOYS