PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee (POC) president and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has been invited to attend the opening ceremony of the 12th Asian Seniors Chess Championships, which comes off the wraps on Sunday at the Knights Templar Ridge Hotel in Tagaytay City.

Cavite Vice Governor Athena Tolentino and Asian Chess Federation Executive Director Casto “Toti” Abundo are also expected to grace the 10 a.m. ceremony, as well as the opening round of the prestigious competition being held in the popular holiday city noted for its cold climate and beautiful scenery.

More than 30 players from 10 countries have so far registered in both the 50 years old and above and 65 years old and above categories in the week-long competition which offers a guaranteed cash prize of US $3,000.

Veteran IM Chito Garma, who topped the Asian Seniors in Tagaytay City in 2018, and IM Angelo Young, who finished eighth in the World Seniors in Bucharest, Romania in 2019, head the list of participants in the nine-round tournament.

Leading the foreign cast are Galymzhan Ibrahev, Yelena Gaichenya and Irina Bulonova of Kazakhstan, WFM Helen Milligan of New Zealand, Hamdani Rudin of Indonesia, Ahmad Ismail of Malaysia, Joseph Ebenezer of India, and Badrakh Bat-Erdene of Mongolia in the 50-above category.

Miles Paterson of Australia, Aitkazy Baimurzin, Inna Matveyeva, Tuleurek Demezhanov and Biket Zharokov of Kazakhstan, Pricha Srivatanakul of Thailand and Kia Mwa Lim of Malaysia headline the foreign cast in the 65-above.

Among the notable local players in the list are IMs Barlo Nadera and Enrique Paciencia, FM Edgardo Garma and Rodolfo Panopio in the 50-above class; and Adrian Pacis, Efren Bagamasbad, Joselito Dormitorio, Quirino Sagario and Mario Mangubat in the 65-above division.

At stake are cash prizes amounting of $3,000 with the champion receiving US$500.

The runner-up and third placer will earn $400 and $300, respectively.

The top three placers will also receive gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively.

The fourth up to the sixth placers will get $200, $150 and $150.

The best female participant will pocket the special prize of $300.

Gold medalist (first after tiebreak) in Standard chess open category shall receive a GM norm. 1st equal (first three after tie break) will receive the IM title.

Silver and bronze medalists shall receive IM norms and FM titles.

For a direct title to be awarded immediately an applicant has to have achieved at some time or other a minimum rating as follows: IM 2200, WIM 2000, FM 2100, WFM 1900.