Tight battle seen
Published : Saturday, March 19, 2011 00:00
Written by : Ed Andaya
WITH most of the country’s top players seeing action, a wide open race is seen in the 2011 National Inter-Province chess team championship scheduled April 1-5 at the Cabagnot Training Center in Kalibo, Aklan.
No less than GM Wesley So and comebacking GM Mark Paragua head the list of players who have already confirmed their participation in the five-day tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in cooperation with the Aklan provincial government.
So, the country’ s highest-rated player with an ELO of 2667, will carry the banner of multi-titled Tagaytay City of Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentinto.
Paragua, who is still fresh from a highly-successful campaign in the United States in the last two years, will lead the fight for Misamis Oriental during the annual competition being held in this progressive Western Visayas province noted for its world-famous Santo Niño Ati-Atihan Festival.
Another player to watch is GM John Paul Gomez, who will spearhead the title-retention bid of LWUA-Quezon City A.
NCFP chairman/president Prospero “Butch” Pichay has been invited to make the ceremonial moves with Aklan Gov. Carlito Marquez.
The other teams which have signified their intention to participate are Palawan, Oriental Mindoro, Iloilo Province, Antique, Pampanga, Laguna, Rizal, Bohol, Capiz, Aklan, Sulong Roxas City, LWUA-Quezon City B and C, DAR- Quezon City, PNP-Quezon City, Makati City, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, Passi City and other top provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.
A whopping cash prize of P100,000 and trophy await the winning team.
Full article here.
Wesley should play. He can make good money.