Wednesday, September 12, 2007 NCFP braces for 6th Asiad
WITH only one week remaining, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) is in the final stages for the preparation of the 6th Asian Individual Chess Championship which opens on Sept. 19 at the Exhibition Hall of the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.
The Chess Championships is this year’s qualifying tournament for the 2007 Fide World Cup as announced by the Asian Chess Federation and Fide, the world governing body of the chess federations.
Only chess players with ratings of 2300 and above based on the July 2007 Fide rating list can qualify and join the chess tournament. Fide-affiliated chess federations in Asia headed by the Super Grandmasters of China and India will join the event.
Cebuanos
Cebu’s own Fide Master Anthony Makinano, and IM Barlo Nadera and Richard Bitoon will participate in the 11-rounds Swiss system format. IM Rico Mascariñas is also expected to join.
The five Filipino GMs led by Eugene Torre will also see action together with Rogelio Antonio Jr., Mark Paragua, Bong Villamayor and Nelson Mariano.
The Chinese GMs joining the event are Wang Yue, Bu Xiangzhi, Ni Hua, Zhang Pengxiang, Ye Jiangchuan and Wang Hao. The Indonesian GMs are Utut Adianto and Megaranto Susanto. Iran has GMs Ghaem Maghami and Elshan Moradiabadi. India has GMs Surya Shekhad Ganguly and Chanda Sandipan. Vietnam has GMs Le Quang Liem and Nguyen Anh Dung, while Singapore has GM Zhang Zhong.
A total of 150 foreign, national and local wood pushers will be seeing action for the total prize money of $40,000. The top 10 winners will qualify for the World Cup. (JGC)
