Manila chessfest
Posted by Online on Jun 24th, 2012

Manila, Philippines – The 2012 Manila Open Chess Championship, dubbed as Mayor’s Cup, gets under way today at SM City Manila with National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President/Chairman Prospero “Butch“ Pichay, Jr. and Grandmaster Eugene Torre gracing the opening ceremonies.

Torre and Pichay will deliver inspirational messages to the participants of the one-day affair, being held as part of kick-off activities for the city’s 441st founding anniversary.

The event is supported by PAGCOR, SM Prime Holdings and Spartan Mining.

Other personalities who will grace the ceremonies at 11 a.m. are Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares, NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales and Spartan Mining head Louie Ramos, the chairman of the organizing committee Rizal Park Chess Foundation.

GMs Oliver Barbosa, Rogelio “Joey“ Antonio Jr., Mark Paragua, Darwin Laylo and IMs Ronald Dableo, Rolando Nolte, Barlo Nadera and Emmanuel Senador will lead the field, according to tournament director IM Chito Garma.

The champion of the event will receive P20,000.

Defending champion GM Wesley So is campaigning in Europe.

The event in sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, headed by Pichay and secretary-general Abraham “Bambol“ Tolentino Jr.

For further details of the tournament interested parties may contact, IM Chito Garma, 0922360-1148, Peter Lim, 0906-4738993 and Cesar Mendiola, 0917529-0516.

Source: http://www.tempo.com.ph

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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