THE best local government units in the country compete in the 1st Masskara Festival National Inter-Province Cities and Municipalities Chess Team Championships starting today at the Forest Park Resort in Bacolod City.
More than P600,000 in cash prizes courtesy of the city of Bacolod headed by Mayor Alfredo Benitez and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines will be at stake in the tourney.
The tournament will implement an Olympiad style format where each squad will be allowed to field a maximum of five players with four to play, according to NCFP chief executive officer Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales.
The champion will pocket the top purse of P150,000, with P100,000 and P50,000 going to the second and third placers, respectively, in this meet being held in cooperation with the Department of Interior and Local Government, Bacolod Yuhum Foundation, Inc., Bacolod Information Office, Bacolod City Tourism Office, Bacolod City Health Office, Philippine Arbiters Chess Confederation and Bacolod Chess Players Association.
Host Bacolod is fielding two teams while Negros Occidental will have several squads, including San Carlos, Escalante, Silay City, Talisay City, Vicorias City, and Cadiz.
International Master Joel Pimentel will lead Bacolod’s first team while the second squad is headed by Grandmaster Darwin Laylo, with FIDE Master David Elorta, Jerry Areque and Brylle Arellano playing in the lower boards.
Grandmasters Joey Antonio is teaming up with International Master Emmanuel Emperado, Nezil Merilles and Joselito Asi for Calapan City.
