TWELVE of the country’s top players, led by GMs Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Darwin Laylo, will see action in the 2021 Philippine National Chess Championships on Dec. 9-15 at the Solea Hotel and Resort in Mactan Island, Cebu.

Antonio, nicknamed the “Iron Man of local chess, and Laylo will be the players to watch in the prestigious tournament being held as part of the sports development program of the Chess Movement, Inc. and Barkadahan Para sa Bansa.

Both Antonio (ELzo 2421)and Laylo (ELO 2434), the only two GMs entered in the tournament, are fresh from impressive showings in the recent PCAP San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land online chess championships.

Antonio, who became a GM in 1993, is the top player of Southern Division champion Iloilo Kisela Knights, while Laylo, who earned his third and final norm came in the 2007 Asian Chess Championship in Cebu, is one of the leading performers of Northern Division semifinalists Pasig Pirates.

The other players seeing action are newly-crowned National Seniors champion and San Juan Predators standout IM Ricardo de Guzman (ELO 2344), IM Paolo Bersamina (ELO 2461), IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia (ELO 2411), IM Ronald Dableo (ELO 2407), IM Daniel Quizon (ELo 2324), IM John Marvin Miciano (ELO 2316), IM Michael Concio (ELO 2287), IM Joel Pimentel (ELO 2273), Allan Pason (ELO 1974) and WIM Janelle Mae Frayna (ELO 2190).

Notably absent are the country’s top four players based on the recent FIDE ratings — GMs Julio Sadorra, Oliver Barbosa, Mark Paragua and Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr.– who are all currently based abroad.

Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre is also not in the list.

The round-robin tournament is organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), headed by Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay, in cooperation with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), led by Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), headed by Cong. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

Supporting the event are the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), thru Vice Chairperson and General Manager Royina M.Garma, and Chess Movement, Inc., thru Dr. Ariel Potot.

The first round is scheduled at 4 p.m.on Dec. 9. To be held simultaneously with the PNCC is the first Mactan Open, which offers cash prizes and plaques/medals.

Leading the participants in the Mactan Open are IM Angelo Young, NM Anthony Makinano, Roel Abelgas, Brylle Arellano, Jerish John Velarde, Carlo Rosaupan, Alfredo Rapanot, Mark Jay Bacojo, Johnnel Balquin, Bonjoure Suyamin and top female players Bernadette Galas, Jerlyn Mae San Diego and Cherry Ann Mejia.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ed Andaya