7th Dr. Jose P. Leviste, Sr. Inter-School Chess Festival

BY: NM Rudy Ibañez (in photo)

The search is on for the next Filipino chess masters, as the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City plays host to the 7th Dr. Jose P. Leviste, Sr. Inter-School Chess Festival which is expected to draw participation of hundreds of young chess players from different schools on March 19, 2011.

A project of the Ateneo Grade School, High School and Collegiate Chess Teams under the direction of Grandmaster Candidate Idelfonso Datu, this all-student non-master chess tournament will be held at the Ateneo Grade School Cafeteria inside the Ateneo De Manila University Campus in Katipunan, Quezon City.

The tournament is designed to develop the next generation of Ateneo chess players to compete in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) as well as to provide a competitive venue for all promising chess players from different schools.

Interested students who are untitled players from different schools are to play the board under the six-round Swiss System with an active time control of 25 minutes per player. The tournament will have three categories: a Grade School, High School, and College Division.

At stake are cash prizes and trophies for the top finishers in each division. For the college category, the top placer will receive P5,000 plus a trophy. The second, third and fourth place finishers will receive P3,000, P2,000, and P1,000 respectively plus a trophy each. For the Grade School and High School categories, the top finishers will receive P4,000 plus a trophy while the 1st runner ups will receive P2,000 plus a trophy. The third placers will get P1,000 plus a trophy and the fourth ranked individuals shall receive P500.00 and a trophy each.

Top preschool, top grade 1, and top grade 2 finishers will also receive a cash prize of P500 and a trophy each. Top grade school, high school, and collegiate Atenean players will also receive P500 and a trophy each.

The annual tourney is in honor of the memory of Ateneo alumnus Dr. Jose P. Leviste Sr. (HS ’33, AA ’35), the father of Jose P. Leviste Jr. (GS ‘57, HS ‘61, AB ‘65) and Mario P. Leviste (GS ’69, HS ’73), and the grandfather of Jose D. Leviste III (AB 2001) and Maria Therese D. Leviste (AB 2000).

It is supported by the following major corporate sponsors: Constellation Energy Corporation, Italpinas Design and Development, Grand Placement, Pilipinas SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise), and Philippine Eagle Foundation, with the endorsement of Richard Palou, University Athletics Director of the Ateneo de Manila University.

The first Dr. Jose P. Leviste Sr. Chess Cup drew 200 chess players from various schools and institutions in Metro Manila as well as other parts of Luzon such as Pampanga and Pangasinan on March 17-18, 2007.

Last year grade school, high school, and college students from all over Metro Manila competed for the top prize. Emerging the victor in the college division was Chester Guerrero of Letran College. In the high school division, Nigel Galan of De La Salle Greenhills achieved the top spot. Julius Gonzales of Parang Elementary School dominated the grade school category.

Registration is P300 per participant. Interested individuals may register at the playing venue on March 19, 2011. Participants are requested to present their most recent school ID upon registration. For inquiries, please email admuchesscoach@gmail.com or you may text (0922) 8296703 or (0906) 2662580.