Thursday, October 09, 2008 IM beater leads cast in Oro Youth chess tournament
CAGAYAN de Oro's "pride and sorrow" in chess will lead participants in the first ever Ace Hardware Youth Chess Challenge on October 11-12 at the Inilog Grill in the city.
Fifteen-year-old Lennon Hart Salgados, a third-year high school student of Corpus Christi, will see action in the 20-below rivalry where he can expect a stiff challenge from the likes of seasoned juniors such as Alfredo Rapanot Jr., Charles Laya, Jessie Opena and Franklin Porras.
"Sayang kaayo si Lennon kay consistent ang performance wala lay gasuporta sa atong mga potential talents dinhe nga makadula sa international events. He's a GM (Grandmaster) material given the right break and support," one avid fan, Churchill Fasoy, said of Salgados who conquered International Master (IM) Nathaniel Ivan Situru of Indonesia during which he got the rare chance of competing in the Pichay Cup International Open last year in Manila.
Over 100 kids are expected to pit wits in the 14-under category wherein a valuable 1001 Questions & Answers World of Knowledge book (courtesy of Time Life/Filway) is to be disputed on top of the major cash prizes, trophies and medals.
Other than that, the top-three kiddie winners will get P700, P500 and P300 each. While the top-three juniors (20 yrs and below) will go home P1,000, P700 and P500 richer also with beautiful trophies.
Among the special category prizes are the top-three 12-under, 10-under, 8 under and top 5 female finishers in kiddies level and the top 16-under and top 3 females in junior division.
Depending on one's performance, even the best top-8 under player will have an equal chance to pocket the major cash prizes in the 14-under section; a unique format that will also apply in the junior rivalry.
Entry fees are pegged at P125 for juniors (with chess set P100 only) and P75 for kiddies (P50 only with chess set).
