"Nagkadaghan na ang mga bata dinhe nga nahilig sa dulang ahedres so, it's very timely nga magpasiugda kita og torneyo para sa ila," said Leo Dinglasan, the undisputed caretaker of Divisoria Chess Club. (There are many kids who play chess, so it is timely that we hold a tourney for them.)
Organizers, however, have yet to decide on where to stage the kiddies event, though initial plans did consider Corpus Christi and Xavier University as ideal hosts as well as the Inilog Grill owned by Dr. Natz Naranjo.
To be dubbed as "2007 Pre-Shell Oro Kiddies Chess Challenge," the Saturday and Sunday seven-round Swiss System tourney is expected to draw top talents from the leading private and public schools in the city.
And while there is already a Good Samaritan who pledged to shoulder the major cash prizes of P800 for the champion, P500 for second place and P300 for third place, Dinglasan said he's optimistic that somebody is bound to share his blessings to make the tournament as more exciting and interesting.
"Atong duolan atong amigo aron madugangan ang prizes unya naa say trophy," said Dinglasan, referring to local sports patron Dr. Arsenio Noble, easily the hands down winner of the mayoral race in Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental. (Let's ask our friend so we can have more prizes and trophies.)
Primed to duel it out for the top honors are the leading contestants in the forthcoming Mindanao Milo Little Olympics such as Chester Coquilla and Kenneth Norman Honculada of Xavier University, Khent Soriano and Eurefaith Sabugaa of West City Central School, brothers Lendrix John Salgados and Leuvin Paul Salgados of Bonbon Elementary School, and Corpus Christi Grade School's Keith Ibaoc, Alyssa Ysaiah Jamaca, Tristan Ibaoc, Christian Pabillore and Joshua Lumancas.
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