Nat’l inter-cities chess starts today

THE 2011 National Inter-Cities and Municipalities Chess Team Championship gets underway today at the Pavilion Event Center in Tanauan City, Batangas.

The first round will commence right after the opening ceremony beginning at 8:30 a.m with no less than NCFP chairman/president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. will lead the traditional ceremonial move along with Tanauan Economic Council executive director, Atty. Ruel Canobas and NCFP executive director GM Jayson Gonzales.

Tagaytay City is expected to go all out to retain its crown with Grandmaster Wesley So and National Master Edmundo Gatus at the helm.

The other fancied teams include GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio’s Mandaluyong City, GM Darwin Laylo’s Misamis Oriental, GM John Paul Gomez’s Tagbilaran City, GM-elect Oliver Barbosa’s Tanauan City, GM-elect Richard Bitoon’s Tandag City and IM-elect Richelieu Salcedo’s FEU-Manila.

The event will coincide with the grand final of the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (PACE)-National Chess Academy (NCA) and National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) 2011 Age-Group Chess Championships.

A total of 277 grand finalists from all over the country are expected to see action in four age brackets – 17-under, 14-under, 11-under and 8-under.

The grand final will be the basis for selection of the Philippine national youth team that will compete in the Singapore Youth Festival Chess Championships on Dec. 26- 31 in Singapore.

“We are very excited to host a couple of big events in chess at the same time,” said Tanauan Economic Council executive director, Atty. Ruel Canobas. “This event gives the future of Philippine chess a chance to see our best players in action.”  Correspondent Marlon Bernardino