Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Peru company donates $10,000 to young chess champ

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Martín Seminario, a young chess player from Chiclayo - the capital city of the Lambayeque region, will be able to fulfill his dream of traveling to a world chess championship in October in Vietnam.

After reading reports of the help Martin and his father were seeking, Peruvian businessmen from Topy Top clothing company have offered to pay all of the expenses necessary for the chess champ to travel to Vietnam.

Over the past weeks, Martin and his father were going to soccer matches in Chiclayo to ask for people's support.

Many of the city's citizens were touched by the cause and donated money to help Martin, who recently won the Pan American title.

With 1,500 soles donated by the governor of Lambayeque and 2,500 raised by Martin and his father, the father-son duo had managed to raise just over $1,000.

$10,000 were needed for the trip.

Topy Top representatives contacted Martin and his family on Friday afternoon and offered to pay the cost of the trip to Vietnam.

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# Sven says :
30 August, 2008 [ 01:07 ]

What an incredible gesture :) Well done Topy Top.

# LOL says :
30 August, 2008 [ 04:41 ]

That's one damn expensive trip. I went to Europe for a month and spent way less than that. LOL Where is he staying? At some first class luxury apartment with a dozen servants? 

# Quantum says :
30 August, 2008 [ 06:39 ]

Good gesture indeed.  I'd never heard of Topy Top but have now.

# Pedro says :
30 August, 2008 [ 19:30 ]

HEY **LOL** Y CON CUANTO DINERO HAS AYUDADO TU ???  PARA CRITICAR Y SER PESIMISTA.....SIEMPRE HAY UN TONTO POR ALLI.
 EL NUEVO CAMPEON DEL  MUNDO..*MARTIN*  NO PUEDE VIAJAR SOLO,
LOL... TIENE QUE VIAJAR CON DELEGADO Y ENTRENADOR.
  QUE DESGRACIA QUE SIEMPRE SE NOS SALE LA DEL PERUANO PESIMISTA..
LOL ...REGRESA A TU TRABAJO A LIMPIAR TUS BAÑOS EN LOS EE.UU.

  FELICITACIONES A LA COMPAÑIA ** TOPY TOP** Y MUCHA SUERTE  MARTIN.... ESTAMOS ORGULLOSOS DE TI. VALES UN PERU.   !!!

# Mike says :
30 August, 2008 [ 22:15 ]

I agree, it sounds like a bit much - even for two people (obviously his father would need to come).

However, there could be steep fees for entering the world championship itself.

I am glad to see someone with money in Peru taking pride in their country and supporting people who can inspire fellow Peruvians.  Hopefully they will inspire other companies to support and sponsor others.

# Cleo Powers says :
31 August, 2008 [ 10:45 ]

I wonder if the 10 G's were paid out in Peru Sole or the best money can buy, the U.S. Dollar? I hear the U.S. dollar is what? worth 3.5 times more than the Sol?

# Pedro says :
31 August, 2008 [ 13:33 ]

10,000.oo soles is about $3,600.oo US dollard. just enought to pay the flying tickets, hotel and  a couple of hamburgars.
  How long are we going to continue being soo stupid pesimistics.
   CONGRATULATION DE THE COMPANY  * TOPY TOP*
 AND WE, ALL ENTUSIASTIC PERUVIANS, ARE WISHING MARTIN A NICE TRIP, GOOD GAMES  AND REMEMBER THAT WE ARE PROUD OF YOU MARTIN.
   JUST DO YOUR BEST MARTIN AND....BRING VICTORIES FOR YOU AND FOR ALL OF US....THE TRUELY  PERUVIANS.!!!!

((( PESIMISTAS QUE HABITAN EN EL EXTRANJERO...SE LES RECOMIENDA
  CERRAR EL HORT....)))

# Cleo Powers says :
1 September, 2008 [ 10:38 ]

I'm no pesimistas, i'm a realists. Still, 3600.00 Peruvian is what? 10 times more than most familys make in Peru? He's very lucky to get it. I wonder, does he come from a poor family or is this going to be another political same-o-same-o?

# Patricia says :
1 September, 2008 [ 22:11 ]

It is about time "the envious" sit back and be quiet-you must of not heard:"if you can´t say anything nice don´t say anything at all" .  I applaud Topy Top for this generous gesture, for those who have not heard of Topy Top they have very nice clothing mostly peruvian cotton at reasonable prices. They have a nice store at the Jockey Plaza Mall.This gesture is one that should be copied and not condoned, a good way to promote healthy activities and sports amongst those who are bright and gifted but not wealthy. 

# gkeim says :
8 September, 2008 [ 19:57 ]

This story is not true, tippy top lied to get publicity, they are not donatig the money!!!  This is a very cruel thing to do to an 8 year old kid just for publicity. Tippy Top should be ashamed of themselves!!