Ozamiz “Battle of Chess Champs” set
TEN of the country’s leading players, led by 13-time national champion GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr..and Hangzhou Asian Games campaigner GM Darwin Laylo, will see action in the Gov. Henry S. Oaminal 7-in-1 Chess Festival: Armageddon Battle of Champions on Nov. 10-12 at the Ozamiz City Auditorium.
A guaranteed cash prize of P60,000 is at stake in the round-robin competiion being held as part of the three-day chess festival hosted by Gov. Oaminal and organized by National Chess Federation ofT the Philippines (NCFP) Director and Asenso Misamis Occidental Chess Association (AMOFCA) president ReyUrbiztondo as part of the 94th Provincial Anniversary celebrations.
The champion will bring home the lion’s share of P20,000, the runner-up will receive P10,000 and third placer P7,000. Cash prizes will also be given to the fourth up to the 10th placers.
Joining Antonio and Laylo are IM Rolando Nolte, IM Joel Pimentel, IM Ronald Bancod, IM Kim Steven Yap, FM Alekhine Nouri, FM Ellan Asuela, FM AJ Literatus and FM Roderick Nava.
Aside from the Armageddon: Battle of Championships chess tournament, six other events will also be held in the beautiful city known as the “Gateway to Northwestern Mindanao.”
The other six events in the 7-in-1 program are the Simultaneous Chess Exhibition Matches featuring Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre and GM Antonio; the Gov. Oaminal rapid and blitz individual and team championships with guaranteed cash prizes of P500,000 in four different categories; the PCAP National Championship; the Age-Group chess championship with packages of simul, lecture and tournament for children; the 15-board Visayas versus Mindanao Duel; and the inaugural Mindanao Executive chess tournament.
“Ozamiz City, through Gov. Oaminal, is ready to put its best face to welcome chess players and participants in the three-day festivities,” said Urbiztondo, also the team owner of Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates in the PCAP and Surigao Diamond Knights in the PCL.
“Ozamiz, which is noted for its stunning travel destinations and delectable food offerings. is ready. This will also serve as a good avenue for pormoting grassroots development and recognition of chess competitions in the country,” added Urbiztondo, who is best remembered for his runner-up finish behind GM Enrico Sevillano in the 1983 Cebu All Students Chess Championships.
Assisting Urbiztondo in the event are Joselito Dormitorio and other Mindanao-based chess executives.
