THE FIRST Cebu Deep Blue Christmas Chess Open 2012 aims to draw the region’s best woodpushers when it comes off the wraps on Dec. 21 at the Deep Blue D’ Woodpusher’s Club in SM City Cebu.
A total of P43,800 worth of cash prizes await the winners of the three-day tournament.
The champion will walk away with P15,000 along with a Zoo York wrist watch worth P25,000.
As of this writing, 50 elite wood pushers have already enlisted to join the tournament. According to tournament arbiter Roger Abella, they have also invited Cebuano grand master Enrico Sevillano, GM Richard Bitoon and international master Kim Steven Yap. They are also expecting national masters from Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro and Bohol to join.
The tournament uses a five-round Swiss system format with 20 minutes for each round.
Registration fee is pegged at P300. Registration can be done at the Deep Blue chess club.
For more information about the tournament, contact arbiter Marvin Ruelan at 0926-735-2951. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL