Saturday, January 12, 2008 Execs and pro chess move today
CEBUANO chess enthusiasts will start the year big with the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association monthly competition, which rolls off tomorrow at 2 p.m. in SM Deep Blue Café.
Cepca players will vie for the monthly title via seven rounds Swiss format with a time control of seven minutes each player.
The kiddies and juniors start at 10 a.m. and will have 15 minutes to finish via a five rounds Swiss system, said Cepca tournament official Tony Cabibil yesterday.
Defending January winner Nic Cuizon will try his best moves when he will face fellow Cepca tough contenders like last year’s Cepca grand finals champion Miguel Bane-bane during the event.
Cepca founder and Sun.Star Cebu sports columnist Frank “Boy” Pestaño yesterday said that registration will be held on Saturday, a day before the tournament. More participants from their more than 50 Cepca members are expected to join.
Pestaño said that players to watch for in the kiddies and juniors divisions are the Balbona siblings, Cy Bal-banera, Yves Fiel and Kyle Sevillano, all of them highly decorated players in numerous events last year.
Meanwhile, an anticipated rematch between the Cepca winners against Region 10 top chess players will happen on Jan. 19 as part of the Sinulog Celebration, said Pestaño.
Pestaño said they scheduled the tournament on this date, since the players will come to witness the Sinulog parade.
Leading Region 10, which is composed of players from Ozamis and reinforced by Iligan and Cagayan de Oro, is National Master Quirino Sagario, while Cepca grand finals winner Miguel Banbane will lead Cepca.
Pestaño said they will be up against Region 10 since the Manila team is very tough to beat. Maybe next year, he said.
The games will be held also at SM City Deep Blue Café with two games for each player who will be given one hour to finish.
In 2005, Cepca hosted the biggest executives chess tournament in the country with the Manila team, Cebu and the team from Misamis Occidental. They only finished the tournament with a draw from team Misamis, Pestaño said.
He said that both Cebu and Misamis teams were swept by the Manila team, 2-0, with a powerhouse cast of seasoned players headed by five-time Grand Prix champion Jenny Mayor. (NSM)
