A total of P2.2 million in cash prizes and trophies will be up for grabs in the 24-day event, the richest tournament ever after last year’s staging of the Millennium Chess Pambansa in Pasay City.
The champion will receive P1 million tax-free plus the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Champion’s Cup which will be awarded by the President herself during the closing rites on July 7.
It will be the second time that this event will be staged by the organizing Philippine Chess Federation, which will work hand in hand with Pascual Laboratories, the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Bacolod City government.
PCF president Jesus Ingeniero said in yesterday’s launching at the DILG Building in Quezon City that they will invite all the titled players to join the event including grandmasters Eugene Torre, Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Buenaventura Villamayor and international masters Rogelio Barcenilla Jr., Enrico Sevillano, who are currently campaigning in the US chess circuit.
Selection tournaments, beginning today and ending June 12, will be coordinated by DILG with support from Secretary Joey Lina to get equal participation from different parts of the country.
Chief arbiter Ernie Baltazar said the format will be a seven-round knockout series, patterned after the yearly World Championship, with two games every round and four in the finals. — Joey Villar