Antonio leads tough the Philippine National Chess Championships 2021

MANILA — Luminaries in Philippine chess, led by 13-time Philippine Open Champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. of Quezon City, Grandmaster John Paul Gomez of Binan, Laguna and Grandmaster Darwin Laylo of Pasig City have confirmed their participation in the Philippine National Chess Championships 2021 on December 9 to 15 at the Solea Mactan Resort, Cordova, Mactan Islands, Cebu.

“ I hope to do well in this event,” said Antonio, who is also scheduled to conduct a 10 board chess simultaneous exhibition on Saturday, December 4 at Barangay Kamuning Barangay Hall in Quezon City.

According to Chess Movement, Inc. chairman Dr. Ariel Potot ((CPA), the round-robin FIDE-rated tournament will be held face-to-face with the winner earning the right to represent the country in the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games set in 2023 in Thailand.

Also seeing action are country’s lone Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna of Legaspi City, Albay, International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia and International Master Paulo Bersamina of Caloocan City, International Master Haridas Pascua of Mangatarem, Pangasinan, International Master Ronald Dableo of Manila, International Master Daniel Quizon and International Master Michael Concio Jr. of Dasmarinas City, Cavite and International Master Ricardo de Guzman of San Juan City.

RiChessMasters, the organizing team behind this major over-the-board wood pushing competition is also set to stage simultaneously the 1st Mactan Open: Barkadahan Para sa Bansa Championship.

The tournament is expected to draw some of the country’s best woodpushers that will vie for the P50,000 champion’s purse.

They are all likely going to compete against Cebu’s best woodpushers.

The top 10 woodpushers won’t go home empty-handed as they will all receive cash prizes as well.

Plus, the best lady performer, under-16, under-14, under-12, under-10, and under-8 top woodpushers have cash prizes waiting for them after the tournament.

For more details about the major tournament, check out RiChessMasters Facebook page. (Contributed by Marlon Bernardino)