THE 2021 RCM “Battle of the Champions” online chess tournament gets underway Thursday, Dec. 2.

Twenty-four players, led by GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr.and Allan Pason, will see action in the seven-round, Swiss system tournament organized by the Richessmaster and Barkadahan Para sa Bansa.

This will be the first tournament for Antonio since leading the Iloilo Kisela Knights to a runner-up finish to the San Juan Predators in the season-ending PCAP San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land chess tournament.

Pason, on the other hand, makes his first appearance since a remarkable third-place fiish in the Asian Amateur Open chess championships.

Newly-crowned Lapu-Lapu Fiesta online chess champion Khent Delig will also take part.

Also invited to participate are NIM Joel Pimentel, M Ronald Llavanes, NM Anthony Makinano, Noel de la Cruz, Julius Sinangote, Bryle Arellano, Raymond Abellana, Christian Yves Fiel, Sherwin Tiu, Edsel Montoya, Eric Labog, Jr., Theseus Benitez, Neil Adrian Gilig, Michael Linde, John Clifford Labog, Bhel Ortiz, Ivan Cu, Christian Mendoza, Vincent Brimbuela, and. Alekhine Nouri.

At stake are cash prizes from champion up to the 10th placer.

Games will be played from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The participants were all.winners of RCN Thursday Online tournaments that have drawn thousands of participants from July to November.

NM Merben Roque, who holds the distinction as the first-ever winner of the weekly tournament, begged off from competing in the yearend competition.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ed Andaya