Wide open race seen in National Inter-Cities chess

MANILA, Philippines – A wide open race is expected in the coming 2009 National Inter-Cities and Municipalities chess team championship scheduled April 11-15 at the Metro Town Mall in Tarlac City, where the country’s top players backstop their respective teams.

Defending champion Cebu City, bannered by grandmaster-candidate Richard Bitoon, and Tagaytay City, led by GM Darwin Laylo, topbill the teams vying for the title and the P100,000 top prize in the five-day competition organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

Quezon City, led by GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Mandaluyong City, headed by GM Buenaventura “Bong" Villamayor, will also see action in the tournament.

Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA)-Quezon City will also field in five teams, one of which will be led by GM John Paul Gomez and the other four to be composed of select female and junior players.

Leading the LWUA-Quezon City teams are female standouts Shercila and Sherily Cua, Daisy Rivera and Jan Jodilyn Fronda and junior stars Haridas Pascua, Alcon John Datu, Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Mari Joseph Turqueza.

Aside from the P100,000 champion's purse, also at stake are P60,000 and P40, 000 for the runner-up and third placer, respectively.

Individual board one to five topnotchers will also receive P3,000 each and gold medals.

NCFP executive/events director Willie Abalos said each team may field a minimum of four and a maximum of five players, including only one titled player (grandmaster, International master, FIDE master or national master). –GMANews.TV