FOR the first time in the Philippines, a local government in Mindanao will host a highly ambitious 7-in-1 Chess Festival which is guaranteed to lure in the country’s leading chess masters.
Dubbed as 1st Governor Henry S. Oaminal Chess Team Festival, it will be held on November 10-12 at the City Auditorium of Ozamiz City, staking P500,000 in total cash prizes plus trophies and medals.
Tournament organizer Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo said that offering a 7-in-1 chess menu in three days will be first in the country that Hall of Famer Grandmaster Eugene Torre has already confirmed his presence in the conduct of Simultaneous Chess Display and Chess Lectures to young chess participants in the company of IM Roderick Nava (Kamatyas), IM Joel Pimentel, IM Kim Steven Yap, and FM Alekhine Nouri.
GM Rogelio ‘Joey’ Antonio, a many-time Philippine Open champion, has also signified to compete in the cash-rich Individual Open and Team Rapid tourneys and the Armageddon Battle of Philippine Champions.
“We label it as 7-in-1 because the Ozamiz Chess Festival, mainly featuring the rapid and blitz chess championships in team and individual, will also present a rapid event of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines as a qualifier, the rivalry of Mindanao’s top executives and a team showdown between the best of Mindanao and Visayas chess players,” Urbiztondo said.
The three-day Ozamiz Chess Festival will culminate in the Battle of Philippine Champions, employing the gut-wrenching Armageddon rapid format.
Already, a series of promotional events leading to the Ozamiz Festival is unfolding around the country under the banner of the Rising Chess Unlimited Development Program which kicked off in Butuan City on September 24, followed by Davao City on October 7 then Cebu City (October 14), General Santos City (October 21), Metro Manila at Robinson’s Galleria Ortigas (October 29), and Cagayan de Oro City (November 4).
For the visitors who intend to compete in the three-board team challenge in Ozamiz, Urbiztondo said the team average rating will be 2100, using a player’s highest rating in six categories such as local standard, local rapid, local blitz, Fide standard, Fide rapid, and Fide blitz.
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
