2013 Nat’l rapid and blitz chess tourney on today

SOME of the country’s top chess players compete in the 2013 National Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship which starts today at the Philippine Sports Commission National Athletes’ Dining Hall inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The two-day, nine-round Swiss System event is organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

No less than Asia’s First Grandmaster Eugene Torre will do the traditional ceremonial moves along with NCFP Chairman/President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Cavite Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr.

Open to all chess players who are members of good standing of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), the tournament is divided into the following categories: Open, Women and Kiddies (14 yrs & below).

The tournament shall be governed by the FIDE Laws on Rapid and Blitz Chess. Time control shall be: Rapid Chess – 10 minutes plus  10 seconds increment for each player to finish the game and Blitz Chess – 3 minutes plus 2 seconds increment for each player to finish the game.

International Arbiter Gene Poliarco is chief arbiter while NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales is the tournament director.