Cebu gets new world record for biggest chess tournament
August 9, 2012 10:42am
After “Lolong” the giant crocodile, the Philippines gained yet another place in the Guinness World Records, this time for holding the world’s biggest chess tournament.
The Guinness World Records cited the Cebu City Sports Commission for holding the world’s “largest board game tournament” last January.
“The largest board game tournament consisted of 43,157 participants playing chess and was achieved by the Cebu City Sports Commission (Philippines) in Cebu, Philippines, on 22 January 2012,” GWR said on its website.
It said the record attempt started when 750 school teachers were trained in playing chess who then went on to teach school children.
From October to December 2011, classroom tournaments were held, followed by school tournaments.
The top 32 players from each of the 100 schools advanced to the grand finals at the Cebu Chess Festival.
During the Chess Festival, GWR noted “3,200 finalists competed from 21 to 22 January 2012 at the Cebu City Sports Center,” with the overall winner being Allan Pason.
A separate report on Radyo Mo Nationwide on Thursday said the Cebu City Sports Commission confirmed the distinction.
RMN said Cebu City’s feat displaced Russia, where 1,214 joined a tournament in 2007. — LBG, GMA News
Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com
That’s great!