CEPCA anniversary tilt unfurls

CEBU, Philippines — Over a hundred pawnpushers spread in at least 30 teams will fight it out for supremacy in the 2nd Boy 'Chessmoso' Pestaño Memorial Open Chess Team Tournament, which gets underway today at the Barracks Chess Club located at the fourth floor of Robinsons Galleria Cebu.

The number of entries is expected to increase as the organizing Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (CEPCA) will still be accepting on-site registration until 12 noon today or an hour before the tournament begins.

Before the games, a simple opening ceremony will take place to be graced by Cebu City Councilor Sinsinio Andales, one of the founding members of CEPCA, together with the club's top officials led by their president Engr. Jerry Maratas.

Close to P75,000 in cash prizes will be given away to the winners of the two-day tilt that is among the highlights of CEPCA's 28th anniversary celebration.

The champion will take home P25,000, while the second to fifth placers will pocket P15,000, P10,000, P5,000 and P3,000, respectetively. The sixth to 10th will get P2,500 each.

On the other hand, the top board players will get a P3,000 bonus.

The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP)-sanctioned event is backed up mainly by Jemar Engineering Services, Celjem Construction and Development Corporation, Handuraw, Salon de Rose and Hale Manna.

Following a 7-round Swiss system format, each team shall be composed of three players with an average NCFP rating of 2000. Unrated players are automatically given a rating of 1800.

Entry fee is pegged at P600 for all-kiddies and all-ladies, and P1,500 for regular teams.  For further details, interested parties may contact Ruel Hortelano (0942-2722354), Marvin Ruelan (0932-7152411) or Jun Olis (0942-4641565). — EBV