Friday, September 22, 2006 Tough rivalry seen in inter-province chess By Lynde Salgados
* Organizers expect 60 teams to see action
A STIFF rivalry looms in the 2006 National Inter-Province chess championship, Mindanao's richest chess event thus far with over P600,000 in total cash prizes awaiting the winners.
It will be hosted by the province of Misamis Oriental through the joint ventures of Governor Oscar S. Moreno and NCFP chair, Congressman Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. of Surigao del Sur on October 26-31 at the state-of-the-art Atrium of the Limketkai Mall here.
Apart from the huge cash prizes and the individual side event staking a champion's purse of P20,000, organizers said what made the Misor inter-province unique from the past editions is that it allows the participation of one titled player (GM, IM, Fide Master, NM) only per team.
With this novelty, National Arbiter Domingo Oga told Sun.Star the field of around 60 participating teams from all over the country will be superbly tough yet quite interesting.
"It's going to be a wide-open race for the title and the lion's share of P200,000 for the best performing team. It's practically anybody's game kay usa lang ka master ang makadula per team which will be composed of four regular board players and one alternate," Oga said, adding that the match point used in the just-held inter-cities in Davao will still be applied to determine the winners.
"Match point ang scoring but it's a pressure-packed format kay importante kaayo ang individual points sa tiebreak. Misamis Oriental will likely field at least three to four teams though we expect Manila and the Pichay-backed Surigao to come up with powerhouse rosters," Oga said.
Already, one team from Manila will parade the likes of former Asian zonal champion, IM Ronald Dableo, Rhobel Legaspi, Allan Cantonjos, Noel dela Cruz and Raymund Salcedo.
"Bale halos tanan sa lower boards. mga master-waiver," Cantonjos told this writer via text messaging.
Reigning 2006 CDO Fiesta CDO team titlist, Tagoloan Tarantula will also be competing through the all-out support of Mayor Yevgeny "Bambi" Emano.
"Ako sa'ng i-convince ang City Council nga mag-put up og team for this inter-province affair," were the inspiring words of City Vice Mayor Michelle Tagarda Spiers.
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