CAGAYAN de Oro City — Filipino chess players will have a rare chance to compete for international titles and major prize money on home soil as three international tournaments are set to take place in the Philippines this November. 

The back-to-back events will bring FIDE-rated competition to Misamis Occidental and Metro Manila, giving local players opportunities to earn title norms without shouldering the high cost of traveling overseas. 

The chess action opens in Mindanao with the 7th ASEAN Individual Chess Championships at the Asenso Misamis Occidental Recreation and Adventure Park (AMORAP) in Sinacaban from Nov. 2 to 10. The tournament offers P185,000 to the Open champion. 

Players can then move directly into the 2026 Misamis Occidental Philippines International Open Chess Championship, scheduled at the same venue from Nov. 10 to 18, with a top prize of P432,000. 

The month-long chess run concludes in Metro Manila with the AQ Prime International Open Championship at the MICE Center in Quezon City from Nov. 17 to 26, offering P308,000 to the champion. 

More chances, lower cost 

For aspiring Filipino masters and grandmasters, hosting international tournaments locally could make the path to higher FIDE titles more accessible. 

Players pursuing titles such as International Master (IM) and Grandmaster (GM) typically need to earn required norms while competing against strong, internationally rated opponents. 

Overseas tournaments can mean costly airfare, accommodation and other travel expenses.

With three major events scheduled in the Philippines, local players can pursue those opportunities while staying closer to home. 

The benefits were already seen during the 2025 ASEAN edition in Misamis Occidental. 

Rising Filipino player Mark Jay Bacojo finished third in the Open Division and earned a direct International Master title, while Ruelle Canino placed second in the Women’s Division, securing her Woman International Master title and a Woman Grandmaster norm. 

Mindanao takes center stage 

The November chess calendar also puts Misamis Occidental at the center of international chess activity, with two major tournaments being held in the province. 

The events are organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and the Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental as part of the province's celebration of its 97th founding anniversary. 

For Filipino chess players, the message is clear: this November, the road to international titles and big prizes may be much closer to home.