THE country’s top players, led by New York City-based GM Mark Paragua and GM Darwin Laylo, will banner the participants in the 4th Chooks-to-Go National Rapid Chess Championships on July 9-11 via Tornelo.

Paragua, who made history as the first Filipino player to breach the ELO 2600 rating, and Laylo are among the notable players who have already confirmed thei participation in the three-day competition organized by the Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA) and the Rotary Club of Nuvali and sponsored by Chooks-to-Go.

Also in the early list of participants are former Asian junior champion IM Ricardo de Guzman, IM Barlo Nadera, FM David Elorta, FM Nelson Mariano III, FM Randy Segarra, NM Glennen Artuz, AGM Dandel Fernandez, AGM Henry Lopez and Roel Abelgas.

At stake in the prestigious tournament sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) is a guaranteed cash prize of more than P500,000 with the champion in the Open Division getting the lion’s share of P100,000.

“The tournament, which is open to all Filipino players, is easily the biggest national online chess tournament in the country,” said PECA president Dr. Fred Paez.

Dr. Paez, also the team owner of PCAP All-Filipino champion Laguna Heroes, said the country’s leading players — GMs, IMs, FMs and NMs — have already confirmed their participation in the event.

Tournament format is seven rounds Swiss system with 10 minutes plus 5 seconds increment per player.

The champion in the Open Division will bring home the top prize of P100,000.

The runner-up will receive P75,000, the third placer will pocket P50,000, the fourth placer P30,000 and the fifth placer P25,000.

The sixth up to the 10th placers will get P10,000.

Also receiving cash prize s of P10,000 each are the Top Under 2100 and below player, Top Under 2000 and below, Top Under1900 and below, Top Under 1800 and below and Top 1700 and below.

In the Women’s and Executive divisions, the champion will pocket P10,000, the runner-up P7,000, the third placer P5,000, the fourth placer P3,000, fifth placer P2,000 and the sixth up to the 10th placers P1,000 each.

The Junior Boys and Junior Girls top finishers will receive P7,000 (champion), P5,000 (runner-up), P3,000 (third placer), P2,000 (fourth placer), and P1,000 (fifth placer).

Registration fees are P300 for Open and Executive, P150 for women, P100 for juniors and P50 for kiddies.

For inquiries, call or text Dr. Paez at 0921-2728172; Sam Balboa at 0998-5530477; Engr. Troy Caria at 0923-4687524; Noel Balderas at 0917-1370430; and Jalbert Vilan at 0909-7159245.