THE Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) Group of Companies has thrown its support behind local chess with a sponsorship package valued at more than $460,000 for the staging of the 2014/15 National Schools Chess Championships.

The tournament, which is the flagship junior event of the Jamaica Chess Federation, kicked off in December with 44 teams from 26 schools across the country matching skills in the Kingston and rural area competitions.

Play is scheduled to continue until March when the regional championships will be held and the winners for the Kingston area and rural area will be decided.

The competition will culminate with the All-Island Championship, which is scheduled for March 19 at the PCJ Auditorium in New Kingston. The top team will receive $200,000 in cash and prizes courtesy of the PCJ and its subsidiary, Petrojam.

“We consider our sponsorship of the Schools Chess Championships to be a worthwhile investment in our country’s youth because chess is one of the most constructive and beneficial sports,” PCJ Group General Manager Winston Watson explained.

“Chess helps players to develop solid problem-solving and decision-making skills and it can improve mathematical ability and help individuals to think logically and creatively, which makes it one of the most beneficial sports a young person can participate in,” he added.

Peter Myers, vice-president of the Jamaica Chess Federation, said: “A major objective of the Jamaica Chess Federation is to develop a cadre of players who can become champions in the international arena and the work starts with our youngest players.

“We are out to prove that Jamaicans can be as dominant in mental sports as we are in physical sports and we thank the PCJ Group for their tangible support as we embark on this mission,” he added.