SO, TORRE GUESTS AT EDPAM ANGELES CHESS CUP

THE Philippines’ top chess players Super Grandmaster Wesley So and Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre will be the guests of honor in the first Atty. Edgardo “EdPam” Pamintuan Chess Cup on April 6 at the Marquee Mall Activity Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.

“We have invited them Wesley and Eugene to grace our chess tournament and give inspiration to our Angeles City chess players,” said Pamintuan, former chairman of the Subic-Clark Alliance and Development council.

Pamintuan, a former two-term mayor here, has been supportive of sports activities during his reign as chief executive.

He led the Angeles City players to win two consecutive over-all championships in the Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association sports meet.

Pamintuan is deep in the city mayoralty race under the Lakas-CMD-Kampi party.

Citing the credentials of So and Torre, Pamintuan said, the two Grandmasters have brought various honors to the country.

“By merely seeing these two world-class GMs, local players will be motivated to work and train harder,” he said.

Pamintuan said that hundreds of chess players and enthusiasts from different schools, barangays and various organizations in this city are expected to join the prestigious event.

He added that national and international arbiters will be present to officiate the non-master tournament where a seven-round Swiss system will be used.

As of March 8, more than 70 chess enthusiasts here have already registered with the organizers.

However, the organizers said they will be limiting the number of participants to 150 since “this is just a one-day tournament but it will surely create an impact.”

“There are more tournaments to come,” said Ramil Genita, one of the organizers.

During his birthday celebration last February 23, presidential candidate Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro said he will fully support all the programs of Pamintuan.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO