THE Cebu Executive and Professional Chess Association’s (Cepca) plan to put up a chess center finally got the nod of the Cebu City Government.

Cebu City, through Councilor Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem, said the City welcomes Cepca’s plan to establish a chess center that will be built at the Plaza Indepen-dencia.

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Jakosalem, the games, amusement and sports committee chairman of the Cebu City Council, said he is excited about the plan and will support the project.

“That is a very laudable idea. Projects like those are as good as approved. Of course, we still need the approval of the mayor, but I am certain he would not object to this,” Jakosalem said.

Cepca membership committee chairman Frank Pestaño said he has been batting for a chess center to be located in the public plaza in the city.

“You can see chess centers in almost every plaza in the major cities of the world. One of the best examples is in Luneta Park where chess players, regardless of their titles or ranking, come to play against unknown players,” said Pestaño.

“This is a good way to develop the skills of our players as well as the young hopefuls,” Pestaño added.

Mandaue City recently put up its own chess center through the initiative of national master Ben Macapaz.

“We can start with 20 or 30 sets of chess equipment including chess clocks. All we need now is the right people who can run the center,” Jakosalem said.

Pestaño assured Jakosalem that Cepca can provide the manpower and technical support and can teach aspirants at the center.