Saturday, December 16, 2006 Duterte increases chess cash prizes
DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte added P2,000 in each cash prize his Pahalipay sa Pasko chess tournaments in yesterday's opening of the open event at the NCCC Mall activity area.
Duterte, who came to the playing venue with city sports coordinator Christopher "Bong" Go after Round 2 of the Swiss System format chessfest, said: "Pamasko ko na sa inyo. Lahat ng cash prizes, dagdagan ko ng P2,000. So ang open champion tatanggap ng P7,000 instead of P5,000 (This is my Christmas gift for you, adding P2,000 in each cash prize. The open champion who is supposed to get P5,000 will now receive P7,000)."
Duterte said the same scheme will be followed by the second and next five placers.
In the kiddies event, which will get underway on December 24 and 26, the kiddies 8,10 and 12-below category winners will also get additional P2,000.
Duterte also played with 10-year-old John Ray Batucan of Don Juan dela Cruz Central Elementary School but lost after 25 moves.
The mayor raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and smiled after Batucan beat him via a Ruy Lopez opening.
Batucan, in an interview with Sun.Star, said: "Nalipay ko nakadula nako si mayor. Wala man ko nataha sa iya, na-enjoy lang ko ug dula (I'm happy to have played with Mayor. I was not intimidated by him, I just enjoyed the game)." (MLSA)
