MORE than 300 participants, led by the country’s best and the brightest players, are expected to compete in the 2nd Gov. Henry S. Oaminal Chess Festival on July 9-10 at the AYA Hotel and Residences in Clarin, Misamis Occidental.

Veteran GMs Rogelio Antonio, Jr. and Darwin Laylo banner the list of participants in the open category, along with IMs Daniel Quizon, Chito Garma, Rico Mascaarinas, Rolando Nolte, Ronald Bancod, Joel Pimentel, Kim Steven Yap, Michael Concio and Eric Labog and FMs Alekhine Nouri, Vince Alaan and Roel Abelgas.

Also expected to converge in this beautiful province in Northern Mindanao are the leading high school and elementary players from all over Visayas and Mindanao.

“We hope to duplicate, if not surpass, the success of first Gov. Oaminal Cup held last year,: said AGM Rey Urbiztondo, president of the organizing Asenso Misamis Occidental Federated Chess Association (AMOFCA).

“As of today, we are reciving a lot of onine registration, including thos ecomign from Cebu, Bukidnon, Zamboanga, Iligan and Pagadian. Plus, players from our province misamis Occidental,” added Urbiztondo, who is organizing the event as part of the provicne-wide celebration of the 76th Ozamiz City Charter Anniversary and the Feast of Nuestra Sra. dela Concepcion y del Triunfo de Migpang.

Urbiztondo also said Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre has also agreed to make the ceremonial moves together with Gov. Oaminal, Mayor Henry “Indy” Oaminal Jr. and Rep. Sancho Fernando Oaminal.

Co-hosting the two-day event are the Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental, 2nd Congressional District Office and Local Government Unit of Ozamis.

A total cash prize of P355,000 and medals are at stake in three divisions: Open, High School and Elementary.

The champion in the Open category will bring home the lion’s share of P50,000, while the runner-up and third placer will pocket P30,000 and P20,000, respectively.

The fourthplcer will receive P10,000, while the fifth placer will earn P5,000.

The sixth up to the 20th placers will also receive cash prizes.

The winners in the High School/Under-17 and Elementary/Under-13 cateogries will receive P30,000, P15,000 and P10,000, respectively.

Special category winners uch as Top Senior (60-above), Top Junior (20-below), Top Lady (Open), Top Lady (17-under) and Top Lady (13-under) will be given P3,000 each.

The tournament is a fitting follow-up to the first Gov. Oaminal 8-in-1 chess championship held last Nov. 10-12 at the Ozamiz City Auditorium.

Last year, Urbiztondo noted that live streaming alone for the three-day event had already gained more than 4 million viewers after only few days based on reports by No.1 Filipino chess YouTuber IM Roderick “Kamatyas” Nava and Koronadal-based Biyaherong Arbiter AIM Mark John Centillo.

Registration fees are P500 in the Open and P300 in the High School and Elementary categories.

There will be an NCFP subsidized registration fee for the first 100 registrants Misamis, 50 from Mindanao and 10 each from the Visayas and Luzon.

For registration, call/text Urbiztondo at 0999-999-0374 or email at [email protected].