Misor sends 5 teams in MPCA Int’l chess tilt

GENERAL SANTOS City ― The Misamis Oriental chess contingent, after a successful campaign in the biggest Northern Mindanao chess event in Ozamiz City, goes international with the $35,000-rich Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Tournament now underway at the Family Country Homes Convention Center here.

With seven players fielded in the Individual Open and six entries in the three-board team competition, the Paglaum MisOr wards of Misamis Oriental Governor Peter M. Unabia comprised the biggest delegation in the country’s biggest pre-Christmas tourney.

“After our success in the national event in Ozamiz, our chess athletes deserve well the MisOr province’s full support for this international chess tournament initiated by Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao,” said Misamis Oriental sports caretaker Chrysostom Cailing.

Grandmaster Novendra Priasmoro of Indonesia (2499 Elo Rating), International Master Josiah Stearman of the United States (2479 Elo Rating), and Filipino GM Darwin Laylo (2441) are the top-three seeded players spearheading the 70-man individual contest for nine rounds, using the standard time control of one hour and 30 minutes plus 30 seconds increment, and staking the champion’s purse of $5,000 or roughly P250,000 in Philippine money.

The Individual Open, slated until December 12, also drew the participation of two Russian IMs Oleg Badmatsyrenov and Alexey Polschikov; Netherland and Indonesia’s Fide Masters Ruud Van Meegen and Arif Abdul Hafiz and Singaporean female woodpusher Gladys Koh Wei Le.

The team contest will be held on December 13-14 with early registrants Paglaum MisOr King, powered by Ozamiz rapid champion FM Ellan Asuela, and Paglaum MisOr PAF of Ozamiz blitz ruler IM Richelieu Salcedo III, vying for the P75,000 top prize along with sister teams Paglaum MisOr Queen, Paglaum MisOr Assassin, Paglaum MisOr Carlsen, and Paglaum MisOr Dragon Slayer.