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THE
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP)
hopes to produce another grandmaster when it hosts two
major international tournaments in the next three weeks.
These
are the Second President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Cup
International Open, set from November 22 to 28 at the
Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Parañaque City, and the Third
NCFP President Prospero Pichay Jr. International Open
slated from December 1 to 7 at the Bayview Hotel in
Manila.
“It’s
all systems go for two of the biggest sports competition
to be held in the country in recent years,” announced
Pichay during a press conference yesterday at the
Pantalan Restaurant in
Manila.
“We hope
that we would have another Filipino grandmaster after
these tournaments and, moreover, Philippine chess would
move another level up to become the No. 1 in Asia,” he
added.
A total
of $70,000 (P3 million)—$40,000 in the GMA Cup and
$30,000 in the Pichay Cup—are staked in the
International Chess Federation (Fide)-rated events
supported by Duty Free Philippines, the Department of
Tourism and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).
Top
local players, bannered by GMs Eugene Torre, Joey
Antonio and Mark Paragua, will pit wits against hordes
of tough oppositions from other countries led by
emerging world powerhouse
China.
Woodpushers from
India,
Iraq and Southeast Asian countries Singapore, Indonesia
and Vietnam are also sending bets to the tournaments,
which will also mark the inaugural of the Asean Chess
Circuit, a yearlong series of tournaments aimed at
uplifting the level of the game in the region.
Besides
the three GMs, also vying in the tournaments are
International Masters Wesley So, Ronald Dableo and
Jayson Gonzales, who are all looking to secure their
third and final GM norm.
In the
GMA Cup, the champion will bring home $6,000, the
runner-up $5,000, and third-placer $4,000, fourth-placer
$3,000, fifth-placer $2,000 and sixth-placer $1,500,
while the seventh to 32nd placers will receive
consolation prizes.
In the
Pichay Cup, the winner will bag $5,000, the runner-up
$4,000 and the third-placer $3,000 with cash prizes also
to be given up to the 24th placer. |
