NATIONAL INTER-PROVINCE CHESS

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

THE 2010 National Inter-Province chess team championship gets underway Sunday (April 11) at the Cabagnot Cultural and Training Center in Old Buswang, Aklan.

More than 30 teams from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are vying for trophies and cash prizes in this tough, five-day tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) under president/chairman Prospero "Butch" Pichay, in cooperation with the Aklan provincial government, headed by Gov. Carlito S. Marquez.

A short but colorful opening ceremony scheduled at 2 p.m. is expected to be held with no less than Sen. Lito Lapid in attendance.

Lapid is expected to make the ceremonial moves, along with Pichay and Gov. Marquez.

Multi-titled Tagaytay, led by GM Darwin Laylo, and Local Water Utilities Administration-Quezon City, bannered by GM John Paul Gomez, topbill the list of teams expected to figure prominently in the hunt for the top prize of P100,000 and trophy.

The other teams to watch are Boracay, which will be spearheaded by comebacking IM Idelfonso Datu; Rizal of IM Oliver Barbosa and the all-Aklan junior team bannered by NM Alfred Acaling and supported by the family of the late chess player Peter Kipo.

GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. who is set to lead Palawan, withdrew from the tournament due to pressing matters.

The other notable teams are DAR-Lanao del Sur (FM Roderick Nava), Makati (FM David Elorta), LWUA-B (Alcon John Datu), Laguna (FM Emmanuel Senador), Bicol (Edmundo Gatus), Iloilo City (NM Cesar Mariano), Bacolod (NM Rolando Andador), La Paz-Iloilo (NM Rodrigo Atotubo), Capiz (NM Francis Jocson), and Misamis Oriental (NM Levi Mercado),

At stake in the nine-round tournament, which is open to all cities, provinces and municipalities, schools and clubs, are trophies and cash prizes amounting to more than P300,000. NCFP secretary-general and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said each team may field a minimum of four regular players or one alternate for a maximum of five players. However only one titled player (GM, IM, FM or NM) is allowed per team.

The champion will pocket the lion’s share of P100,000, trophy and gold medals. The runner-up will receive P70,000 , trophy and silver medals, while the third placer will earn P50,000, trophy and bronze medals.

Cash prizes will also be given to the fourth placer (P30,000), fifth placer (P20,000), sixth placer (P10,000), seventh placer (P9,000), eighth placer P8,000, ninth placer (P7,000) and 10 th placer (6,000).

For inquiries, call NCFP executive/events director Willie Abalos at cell. 0928-5513089 / 0929-2390644 and 0929-2266210; and Aklan provincial sports coordinator Wilfredo Neri at 0920-5636732.