HALL OF FAMER. Eugene Torre (seated left), Asia's first grandmaster and world Hall of Famer, plays against former eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in a tournament in 2018. Torre has been invited to play a simultaneous game during the "Asenso Misamis Occidental National Open" on July 8-9, 2023 in Ozamiz City. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Around 300 chess players from all over the country are expected to join the "Asenso Misamis Occidental National Open" scheduled on July 8-9 at the Ozamiz City auditorium.
A total of PHP200,000 in cash prizes is at stake in the tournament, which is a part of the city's 75th Charter Day celebration.
"It's going to be a grandiose chess competition with the number of players expected to join," said Online Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo, the event's organizer.
Asia's first Grandmaster and World Chess Hall of Famer Eugene Torre has been invited to hold a simultaneous game against select homegrown young players during the two-day competition.
Urbiztondo, a board member of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), also invited the players from Misamis Oriental who ruled the Charter Day Inter-Agency event in Cagayan de Oro.
"Yes, we'll be going there (Ozamiz City) not only to compete but to forge unity and camaraderie with our chess fellows in Misamis Occidental," said Benoni Wabe, founder of the Golden Chess Friends (GCF) that holds monthly chess events in Cagayan de Oro to develop talented youths in Mindanao.
US-based International Master Angelo Young, Arena Grandmaster Lyndon Lumancas (CDO) and top non-master Johnnel Balquin (Misamis Oriental) have signified their intention to join the event offering PHP30,000 to the champion. (PNA)
