Thursday, March 31, 2011

National chessfest goes to Aklan
So, Gomez, Paragua to play in chess tourney

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – Close to 30 chess teams across the country will participate in the 2011 National Inter-Province Chess Team Championships hosted by the province of Aklan for the second time from April 1 to 5.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), headed by its president Prospero Pichay, and Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez are expected to make the ceremonial moves during the formal opening rites on April 1 at the Gov. Cozaron L. Cabagnot Tourism and Training Center in Barangay Old Buswang, this town.

Grandmasters Wesley So, John Paul Gomez and Mark Paragua, who brought honors to the country, will play top board for their respective teams in the five-day nine-round chess competition.

So, the highest-rated Filipino chess player, will carry the banner for Tagaytay team while Gomez heads defending team champion Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA)-Quezon City. Paragua will play for Misamis Oriental.

According to Provincial Sports Coordinator Wilfredo Neri, the prestigious chess team tournament is expected to draw 30 chess teams as compared to 19 teams last year. The tournament sanctioned by NCFP is open to all provinces, cities and municipalities, schools and clubs.

"This is the second time for our province to host the star-studded chess competition. We are ready to host more than 150 chess players and officials who will participate in one of the biggest events in NCFP's chess calendar," he said.

The team champion will bring home the top prize of P100,000 and trophy and the runner-up and the third placer will receive P70,000 and P50,000, respectively.

No comments:

Post a Comment