Tanauan City to host National Inter-cities, Municipalities chess

The 2011 National Inter-Cities and Municipalities Chess Team Championship gets underway on Nov. 4 – 8 in Tanauan City, Batangas.

According to National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay  Jr., the annual team competition will be organized by the Tanauan Economic Council headed by its executive director and former National Telecommunications Commission commissioner and sports patron lawyer Ruel V. Canobas.

“We are so proud that NCFP have chosen our city to host this prestigious event. I hope we could contribute to the grassroots development of this mental sport where Filipinos can excel,” Canobas said.

Expected to participate in the event are the country’s leading grandmasters, international masters, FIDE masters, national masters and untitled players who will represent their respective cities and municipalities. Each participating team will be composed of a maximum of five players which may include two titled woodpushers with an average FIDE rating of 2150 and below.

The tournament, which will be held at the Tanauan City Gymnasium, will be a 7-round Swiss system elimination among all competing teams, with the top four placers advancing into the knock-out semifinal and final rounds.

At stake in the five-day event is P570,000 with the champion team getting the lion’s share of P150,000 plus trophy and gold medals for team members, while the second, third and fourth placers will receive P90,000, P75,000 and P60,000, respectively.

The fifth up to 10th placers will also bring home cash prizes distributed as follows: 5th-P40,000; 6th-P30,000; 7th-P20,000; 8th-P15,000; 9th-P10,000; and 10th-P7,500.

Special awards will also be given to the individual board champions and P5,000 to the team with the best uniform.

A “rapid-chess” side event among players of eliminated teams will also be held simultaneously with the semifinal and final rounds with P20,000 cash prize to be awarded to the champion.

For further information and tournament details, contact Edwin Castillo of Tanauan City (cel. no. 09167027157); IA Gene Poliarco Chief Arbiter (cel. no. 09237309445); or GM Jayson Gonzales NCFP Executive Director (tel. no. 343-3089).