THE pre-Olympiad national chess eliminations for the Mindanao leg are set to kick off a series of major tournaments in Ozamiz City this weekend, October 4-5.

The event is the first of four national and international chess competitions the city will host before the end of the year.

“Gidawat na usab sa among gobernador ang dakong hagit alang sa dugang development for Mindanao chess. So, sugod ugma alegre na usab ang tigi sa ahedres sa Ozamiz among the best in Mindanao chess,” organizer Rey Urbiztondo told Gold Star Daily.

The tournament, a seven-round Swiss System event, will be held at the Ozamiz City gymnasium. It is open to men and women with FIDE ratings of 2099 and below, utilizing a standard time control of 60 minutes with a 30-second increment.

Urbiztondo expects top non-master players from Mindanao to participate in the two-day eliminations, which are backed by Gov. Henry S. Oaminal.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. Gov Henry S. Oaminal in accepting the challenge to host four national and international chess events in Ozamiz before the year ends. Photo by Lynde Salgados

Among the anticipated players are Cagayan de Oro’s Nazario Ubanan and Richily Evanz Cuizon, a 17-year-old representing Misamis Oriental.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 30 finishers in both the men’s and women’s divisions, with the champions receiving P15,000 and P10,000, respectively, plus medals.

The qualifiers will advance to the national semifinals, where they will compete against Fide Masters and International Masters. Winners of the semifinals will proceed to the grand finals in Manila to challenge nominated players and Grandmasters from the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

According to NCFP CEO and Executive Director Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, the survivors of the grand finals will represent the country in the 2026 World Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan.

The Mindanao leg is one of four major chess events scheduled for Ozamiz City, which are also supported by Asenso Pinoy Rep. Henry Oaminal Jr., 2nd District Rep. Sancho Fernando Oaminal, and Ozamiz City Mayor Sam Norman Fuentes.

The other tournaments are:
Philippine Team Selection on October 18-19
Asean+ Individual Chess Championship on November 2-10
Batang Pinoy Henyo Selection on November 15