CEBU - At least 25 teams will vie for top honors as the 2009 Sinulog Open Team Chess Tournament unfolds this morning at the Elizabeth Mall Activity Center.
Each team is composed of a maximum of five players.
Although it is an open tournament, the organizing Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association, Inc. (CEPCA) wants to ensure a balanced competition, thus, rated players are segregated accordingly.
Among the top Cebuano players who will banner their respective teams include Erwin Ababat, Francisco Abugho, Leonardo Alidani, Odillon Badilles, Jhonel Balquin, Arnold Cadiz, Eden Diano, Rogelio Enriquez, Anthony Makinano, Mario Mangubat, Carlos Moreno III, Richard Natividad, Glen Pardillo, Ramsey Pedroza, Allan Salientes, Voltaire Sevillano, Elmer Sumngat, Bonn Tibod, Christopher Tubalado, Ceferino Vizco, and Kim Steven Yap.
Out-of-town entries will also be evaluated by the organizers and see to it that their teams are also fielding in only one rated player.
The tournament follows the usual 7-round Swiss system format.
A total of P63,000 in cash prizes are up for grabs, with the champion getting P25,000. The second placer will pocket P15,000, while the third to sixth will take home P10,000, P5,000, P3,000, and P1,000, respectively.
The top board finishers will also get P1,000 each.
The pre-Sinulog activity is sponsored by the city government of Cebu through acting mayor Mike Rama and councilor Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem. – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (THE FREEMAN)