Regional chess elims up

MANILA, Philippines - The series of regional eliminations for the third Asian Indoor Games starts with the Region IX tournament in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte March 28-30.

The tournament, open only to non-masters, will be held simultaneously with the staging of the “Battle of GMs”scheduled March 24-31 at the Pavilion Hotel in Dapitan City.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Prospero “Butch” Pichay said the top 10 finishers will advance to the semifinals to be held in Manila on Aug. 4-8.

Titled players, such as IMs and NMs, are seeded to the semifinals.

The country’s top players, on the other hand, are seeded to the grand finals scheduled to begin on Aug. 26.

The top finishers will rfepresent the country in the Asian Indoor games scheduled Oct. 30-Nov. 8 in Halongbay, Veitnam.

The Dapitan City government, headed by Mayor Dominador Jalosjos, said preparations are now in full swing for the staging of both the “Battle of GMs” and the Region IX eliminations for the Asian Indoor games.

 “The whole province of Zamboanga del Norte and the city of Dapitan are excited to host both chess tournaments,” said Mayor Jalosjos, who also hosted the highly-successful Handuraw Festival-National Chess TEma Championship last December.

 NCFP executive/events director Willie Abalos said the schedule of the other regional eliminations are:

 Region VI — Cabagnot Training Center, Old Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan, April 18-20.

 Region I — Dagupan City, Pangasinan, May 2-4.

 Region III - Balanga, Bataan, May 9-11.

 Region IV - Tagaytay City, June 6-8.

 Region V - Bicol, June 13-15.

 Region II - Isabela, June 13-15.

 Region VII - June 27-29.

 Region XIII/CARAGA — Butuan City, June 27-29.

 Region VIII - July 4-6.

 Region XI - July 11-13.

 Region X - Gingoog City, July 17-19.

 Region XII - July 25-27.

 In the “Battle of GMs”, the NCFP and the Dapitan City government are putting up close to P1-million in cash prizes, with the men’s champion pocketing the lion’s share of P200,000 and the women’s titlist receiving P60,000.

 The men’s runner-up and third placer will earn P100,000 and P80,000, respectively.

 Other men’s prizes are P60,000 to the fourth placer; P40,000 to the fifth placer; P30,000 to the sixth placer; P20,000 to the seventh and eighth placers; and P15,000 to the ninth to 12 th placers.

 In the women’s division, the second and third placers will get P40,000 and P30,000, respectively.

 The fourth up to the 12th placer will also receive consolation cash prizes.

 Twenty-four of the country’s top male and female players, led GM Wesley So and Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre, and Dresden (Germany) Olympiad veterans Catherine Perena and Cheradee Chardine Camacho, are seeing action in the .

 So, the country’ s highest-rated player with an ELO of 2627, and Perena, the highest-ranked female player with an ELO of 2184, are the top seeds in the tournament.

 Torre is seeded second with an ELO of 2560 while newly-minted GM John Paul Gomez is ranked third with an ELO of 2539.

 Other notable players seeing action are newly-crowned Gov. Umali Cup champion GM Mark Paragua, fourth with an ELO of 2537; GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., fifth with an ELO of 2519; GM Darwin Laylo, sixth with an ELO of 2504; GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor, seventh with an ELO of 2471; and GM Jayson Gonzales , eighth with an ELO of 2466.

 Completing the men’s field are GM-candidates Richard Bitoon (ELO 2473), Julio Catalino Sadorra (ELO 2439), Rolando Nolte (ELO 2488) and Ronald Dableo (ELO 2342).

 So, Gomez, Villamayor, Gonzales and Laylo represented the country in the recent 38th World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany. Torre served as non-playing team captain.

 Perena is top seed in the women’s division with an ELO of 2184, followed by Camacho with ELO of 2166.

 Joining Perena and Camacho in the female division are Shercila Cua (ELO 2155), Sherily Cua (ELO 2143), Daisy Rivera (ELO 2094), Rulp Ylem Jose (ELO 2054), Beverly Mendoza (ELO 2045), Christy Lamiel Bernales (ELO 2043), JEdara Docena (ELO 2001), Kimberly Jane Cunanan (ELO 1991), Jan Jodilyn Fronda (ELO 1970) and Rida Jane Young (ELO 1957).

 Perena, Camacho, Rivera, Cua and Bernales all saw action for the RP team in the Dresden Olympiad.

 For inquiries, call NCFP executive/event director Abalos at cell. 0929-2266210 and 0928-5513089.