Thursday, March 27, 2008 Davao players in Manila meet By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
SIX Davao City Palarong Pambansa-bound woodpushers will compete in the 2008 National Age-Group Chess Championships on April 1 to 6 at the Kaban ng Hiyas Building in Mandaluyong City.
The players are John Ray Batucan, Austin Jacob Literatus, Rowelyn Joy Acedo, Neptali Batucan III, Danilo Engay Jr. and Nikki Erica Yngayo.
National arbiter and Blue Knight Chess Club director Ronnie Tabudlong bared this to Sun.Star Davao before the Davao City Sports Council Inc. (DCSCI) meeting at the Dencia's Restaurant Tuesday night.
"I accompanied the kids with their parents to seek help at City Hall for their trip to Manila. They're happy with the support of the city government," Tabudlong said.
Compostela Valley's Lucky Lou Alicarte, who is also seeing action in the Palaro set on April 20 to 26 in Puerto Princesa City, will also join the national age-group chessfest.
Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Director Susanna Estigoy permitted the Dabawenyo chessers and Alicarte to compete in Manila and be excused from their ongoing training in Mati City as part of the Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) delegation set to campaign in Palaro.
"The national tournament will give our players a good exposure as part of their Palaro preparations," Tabudlong added.
The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP)-sanctioned meet features the under-18, under-16, under-14, under-12, under-10 and under-8 categories.
The champions in all six categories will earn slots to the Asean Age-Group Championships slated on June 11 to 20 in Denang, Vietnam and in the World Youth set on October 19 to 31 in Vang Tau, Vietnam.
They will also receive trophies and cash prizes with the first placers winning P5,000 each, runners-up with P3,000 each and third placers with P2,000 apiece.
NCFP will also hold the 2008 National Juniors Chess Championships that will identify the country's representative to the 2008 World Juniors Chess Championship on August 2 to 16 in Antalya, Turkey.
