ANOTHER tight and exciting battle looms when the 2nd Gov. Henry S. Oaminal Chess Festival comes off the wraps on Tuesday, July 9 at the AYA Hotel and Residences in Clarin, Misamis Occidental.

World Chess Olympiad veterans GMs Rogelio Antonio, Jr. and Darwin Laylo and reigning national champion IM Daniel Quizon are expected to lead thee fight for top honors and the top prize of P50,000 in this two-day competition organized by the Asenso Misamis Occidental Federated Chess Association (AMOFCA) as part of the 76th Ozamiz City Charter Anniversary and the Feast of Nuestra Sra. dela Concepcion y del Triunfo de Migpang.

Also expected to figure prominently n the title hunt are top seed IM Michael Concio, IMs Chito Garma, Rico Mascarinas, Rolando Nolte, Ronald Bancod, Joel Pimentel, Kim Steven Yap, and Eric Labog and FMs Alekhine Nouri, Vince Alaan and Roel Abelgas.

In the 17-under category, the players to watch are NM Keith Adriane Ilar, NM John Cyrus Borce, Arleah Cassandra Sapuan, Vhea Ashley Silvano, Lyn Getubig, Deric Herald Jornales, Sara Dalagan, Art Noblijas, Dwayne Vincent Caneos and Karl Augusto Xander J. Sayson.

Notable participants in the 13-under class are Jesse Eujan Gestopa, Mikael Adrien Trani, Markley Partosa, Cyreine Jean S. Borce, Gabriel Romarate, Maria Andrea Trani, Markjhel Partosa,Jules Alexander Recososa, Nil Jeschel Nahbi Gamba, and Xian Macgyver Caneos.

Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre has been invited to make trhe ceremonial moves, along with Gov. Oaminal, Mayor Henry “Indy” Oaminal Jr. and Rep. Sancho Fernando Oaminal in the event co-hosted by the Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental, 2nd Congressional District Office and Local Government Unit of Ozamis.

AMOFCApresident AGM Rey Urbiztondo said a guaranteed 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 fourth placer 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 categories 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.

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 from 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].

Meanwhile, AMOFCA hosted a Summer Chess Camp-Free Chess Clinic at Naomi’s Botanical Garden in Ozamiz City.

The event featured various activities such as simultaneous exhibitions, rapid tournaments, and blitz competitions among players of chess clubs from Ozamiz, Tangub, and Oroquieta.

Additionally, IM Bancod conducted a lecture, followed by a ceremony to present certificates.

“It is inspiring to see this initiative nurture a love for chess among young players in Misamis Occidental during the summer break, while also identifying promising new grassroots talents in the province,” said Urbiztondo.