ALL IN SPORTS CHESS

After the Aeroflot Open 2010 and before the Battle of GMs, the "All IN SPORTS Expo 2010," which features a rapid chess tournament as a sidelight, serves as the chess event-to-see by the Filipino chess community this weekend.

The event is actually the 1st Philippine Sporting Goods and Facilities, Fitness Equipment, Apparel and Footwear, Hobbies, Recreation and Health-Related Products and Services Exhibition. In essence, it is a marketing event organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to promote the sports sector.

Want to see the country's leading grandmasters in action FOR FREE? Then troop to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Canteen located at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, Manila this Saturday and Sunday (Feb.27 and 28) and watch the likes of GM So play over the board!

It's refreshing to note that the PSC has come up with an event like this, which I hope will benefit the business side of sports as well as the people (read: players) in it.

Congratulations to PSC and see you at the venue!!

The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) announced the prizes as follows:

CHAMPION P30,000.00 +Trophy
2nd 20,000.00 +Trophy
3rd 10,000.00 +Trophy
4th 8,000.00 + Medal
5th 6,000.00 + Medal
6th 4,000.00 + Medal
7th 3,000.00 + Medal
8th 2,000.00 + Medal
9th 1,500.00 + Medal
10th 1,000.00 + Medal
Top Non-Master 1,000.00 + Medal
Top Ladies 1,000.00 + Medal
Top Kiddies 1,000.00 + Medal
Top Senior 1,000.00 + Medal

DEADLINE OF REGISTRATION - 5:00 PM, FEBRUARY 26, 2010
NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DEADLINE
TIME CONTROL - 25 MINUTES + 3 SECS. INCREMENT PER MOVE

ENTRY FEE - P250 Bank Payment-NCFP Account Name: National Chess Fed. of the Philippines. Account no. 4470036237 Banco De Oro,Harison Branch, Harison Plaza near Rizal Memorial Sports Center

Here's a related story from the Philippine News Agency:

"The “All in Sports-Expo 2010” Open rapid chess championship finally gets underway on February 27 to 28 at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Canteen located at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, Manila.

"The country’s top players, led by Aeroflot Open top junior player GM Wesley So and Asian Zone 3.3 champion GM Darwin Laylo, head the list of participants in the unique two-day competition being organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) as part of PSC’s “All in Sports-Expo 2010.”

"No less than PSC chairman Harry Angping and NCFP president/chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay will make the ceremonial moves during the 11 a.m. opening on February 27.

"Angping and Pichay will be joined by NCFP secretary-general and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre and other top officials of the PSC and NCFP.

"“This is one of the right moves of Chairman Angping and the PSC, and the NCFP is giving its full support to this great undertaking,” said Pichay.

"He lauded Angping for initiating this Sports-Expo 2010, which is aimed at discovering young but talented new players not only in chess but in other sports as well.

"Chess is actually just one of the sports lined-up during the February 25 to 28 event organized by the PSC in cooperation with the different national sports associations.

"In chess, the tournament is open to all titled and untitled players and will employ the nine-round Swiss system with a time of 25 minutes plus three seconds per move.

"Aside from So and Laylo, the other notable players expected to see action are GMs Rogelio Antonio Jr., John Paul Gomez, Mark Paragua, Jayson Gonzales Bong Villamayor and GM-candidate Ronald Dableo."