AFTER the sensational triumph of Ronnie Alcano in world billiards, Filipino woodpushers also hope to do well and bring honors to the country when the first Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup International Chess Tournament comes off the wraps on Friday, Nov. 17 at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Parañaque.
A brainchild of National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president and Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. in cooperation with Duty Free Philippines, the prestigious seven-day tournament in honor of the country’s No. 1 sports patron is expected to attract close to 120 foreign and local players vying for the US$30,000 (about P1.5 million).
President Arroyo will personally make the ceremonial moves with Pichay during the 10 a.m. opening ceremony.
Also invited during the opening rites are Department of Tourism Secretary Robert Ace Durano, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez and Duty Free general manager Michael Kho.
“Everything is ready. With the participation of highly-rated foreign players from Russia, the United States and other Asian countries and a whopping cash prize amounting to US$30,000, the GMA Cup will surely be the biggest international chess tournament in recent years,” said Pichay during the event’s formal launch at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall.
Super GMs Alexander Onishuk (ELO 2668) of the United States and Zhang Pengxiang (ELO 2636) of China head the list of foreign participants.
Also in the registry are GMs Ni Hua (ELO 2621) and Zhang Zhong (ELO 2609) of China, GM Varushan Akobian (ELO 2598) of the United States, GMs Utut Adianto (ELO 2589) and Edhi Handoko (ELO 2441) of Indonesia, GM Viktor Mikhalevski (ELO 2580) of Israel, and IMs Tahir Vakhidov (ELO 2522) of Uzbekistan, Wang Rui (ELO 2463), Zhou Weigi (ELO 2435) and Wang Li (ELO 2226), all of China.
The Philippines will be represented by its five GMs – Mark Paragua, Eugene Torre, Rogelio Antonio Jr., Nelson Mariano II and Singapore-based Buenaventura Villamayor, Asian Games-bound IMs Darwin Laylo and Ronald Dableo, GM-candidate Wesley So and John Paul Gomez and other top-rated IMs.
Mabuhay ang Pinoy Chess GMs!