Another Guinness record for Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) has achieved its goal to set a world record in holding the largest chess tournament.

CCSC chairman Edward Hayco confirmed yesterday that Cebu is the new record holder of the “World’s Largest Chess (Board Game) Tournament” in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The title was previously held by Russia for its June 2, 2007 chess tournament with 1, 214 entries at the City Park in Krasnoyarsk.

CCSC hosted the Cebu Chess Festival last January 22 at the Cebu City Sports Center with a total of 43,157 participants.

The participants completed two months of classroom and school-based competitions up to the grand finals.

Allan Pason, 15, of Lapu-Lapu City emerged as the champion.

“Cebuanos can be the best in the world in what we want to do as long as we believe in ourselves. What made the historic event meaningful was how it was organized. The spirit of the volunteers to teach the sport of chess to 43 thousand kids was a monumental task,” said Hayco.

Although no representative from Guinness came to witness the event, Hayco said they strictly monitored and properly documented all games so that their attempt will not be declared null and void.

“We want to transform Cebu into a mecca of chess. We will be holding this annually wherein every player all over the country will come here in Cebu just to experience how it is being part of this momentous event. They will come here not to win but will do some sort of a pilgrimage, a gathering of people who are passionate for the sport chess,” said Hayco earlier.

Hayco thanks all the participants and the over a thousand teachers and coaches as well as their partners and sponsors including the Cebu City Government, Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine Sports Commission, International Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IPI), Julies Bakeshop, Virginia Foods, Rose Pharmacy, the University of Cebu, Cebu Chess Federation.

The new record is the second Guinness title that CCSC achieved under Hayco’s leadership.

In 2009, CCSC held the biggest dancesport class that attracted 7,770 people at the Cebu City Sports Center.

The event broke the previous record of 2, 289 set by Elefta Tosok Tornaja and Norbert Schobert on May 23, 2009 at the Puskas Stadium in Budapest, Hungary. — /MBG (FREEMAN)