AKLAN NATIONAL INTER-PROVINCE CHESS BEGINS TODAY

THE 2010 National Inter-Province chess team  championship  gets underway today, Sunday at the Cabagnot Cultural and Training Center in Old  Buswang, Aklan.

More than 30 teams from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are vying for  trophies and cash prizes in this  tough, five-day  tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) under president/chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay, in cooperation with the Aklan provincial government, headed by Gov. Carlito S. Marquez.

A  short but colorful opening ceremony scheduled at 2 p.m. is expected to be held with no less than Sen. Lito Lapid  in attendance.

Lapid is expected to make the ceremonial moves, along with Pichay and Gov. Marquez.

Multi-titled Tagaytay, led by GM Darwin Laylo, and  Local Water Utilities Administration-Quezon City, bannered by GM John Paul Gomez,  topbill the list  of teams expected to figure prominently in the hunt for the top prize of P100,000 and trophy.

The other teams to watch are Boracay, which will be spearheaded by comebacking IM Idelfonso Datu; Rizal of IM Oliver Barbosa and  the  all-Aklan junior team  bannered by  NM Alfred Acaling and supported by the family of the late chess player Peter Kipo.

GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. who is set to lead Palawan, withdrew from the tournament  due to pressing matters.

The other notable  teams are  DAR-Lanao del Sur (FM Roderick Nava), Makati (FM David Elorta), LWUA-B (Alcon John Datu),  Laguna (FM Emmanuel Senador),   Bicol (Edmundo Gatus),  Iloilo City (NM Cesar Mariano), Bacolod  (NM Rolando Andador),  La Paz-Iloilo (NM Rodrigo Atotubo), Capiz (NM Francis Jocson),  and Misamis Oriental (NM Levi Mercado),

At  stake in  the  nine-round   tournament, which is  open to all  cities,  provinces  and   municipalities, schools and  clubs, are  trophies and cash  prizes amounting to more than P300,000.                            NCFP  secretary-general and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino  said each team may field a  minimum  of four  regular players or  one   alternate for a maximum of  five players. However  only one  titled player (GM, IM, FM or NM) is  allowed per team.

The champion  will pocket the lion’s share of  P100,000, trophy  and  gold medals.
The runner-up  will receive   P70,000 , trophy and  silver medals,  while the third placer will earn P50,000, trophy and bronze  medals.

Cash prizes will  also be given to  the  fourth placer  (P30,000),  fifth  placer  (P20,000), sixth  placer (P10,000),  seventh placer (P9,000),  eighth placer P8,000,  ninth placer (P7,000) and 10 th placer (6,000). For  inquiries,  call   NCFP executive/events  director Willie Abalos at cell. 0928-5513089 / 0929-2390644  and  0929-2266210;   and   Aklan  provincial sports  coordinator  Wilfredo Neri  at  0920-5636732.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO