The 1st Governor Henry S. Oaminal 7-in-1 Chess Festival reels off Nov. 10-12 at the Ozamis City Auditorium in Misamis Occidental with a total of ₱500,000 up for grabs in four categories. The who’s who in Philippine chess will see action, led by Grandmasters Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. and Darwin Laylo, International Masters Roderick Nava, Rolando Nolte, Ronald Bancod and Angelo Young.
Governor Henry S. Oaminal (left) and GM Eugene Torre
The country’s top and aspiring players will take the center stage in the individual, team rapid and blitz tournaments.
The rapid tournament, which applies a 9-round Swiss system, also dangles a spot to the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) national championship for the winner, who will also bag P30,000 top prize.
Also expected to see action in the prestigious event are International Masters Joel Pimentel, Kim Steven Yap, Rico Mascarinas, Richelieu Salcedo III and Fide Masters Nelson Villanueva, Alekhine Nouri, Ellan Asuela, Victor Lluch and Mario Mangubat and National Masters Joey Florendo, Levi Mercado, Cyril Ortega and Levi Martuna.
They will be joined by Lennon Hart Salgados, Johnnel Balquin and Jayson Salubre.
Meanwhile, World Chess Hall of Famer Asia’s First Grandmaster Eugene Torre will be featured in the first of the seven events in the three-day chess fest as he plays simultaneous exhibition matches with Antonio and other superstars on the opening day.
Aside from the simul, individual and team tournaments, age group, executive and armageddon round-robin events are also lined up for invited chess masters in the three-day tournament.
There will also be chess lectures from grandmasters and superstars for masters and students of the sport.-Marlon Bernardino