Saturday, May 24, 2008 Arbiter's seminar to spice up Davao Open chess championships
AN ARBITER'S seminar will be held on the side of the First National Fide-Rated Chess Open that unfolds on Monday at the Gaisano South (GS) Citimall activity area.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Southern Mindanao director James Infiesto bared this during the regular Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum Thursday at the Tower Inn.
"This is an opportunity for aspiring arbiters to get a title without going to Manila. I took my arbiter's title in Manila and paid P2,000 for the seminar.
Locals can take the seminar with P1,000 here next week," Infiesto said.
International Arbiter Wilfredo Abalos, who is also executive director of NCFP, will be the main resource speaker.
The six-day Fide-rated event, meanwhile, will give local woodpushers to earn Fide (World Chess Federation) rating without competing abroad.
Former Davao City standout National Master (NM) Reggie Olay, who hails from Kidapawan, is among the heavy favorites along with NM Ernesto Fernandez, a former Cantilan FIDE-rated champion and national executive champion Dr. Jenny Mayor.
Olay, according to Infiesto, earned an International Master norm by beating IM Barlo Nadera (2397), drawing with GM Rogelio Antionio (2529) and IM Sadikin Irwanto (2456) of Indonesia in the ongoing 1st Subic International Open.
The Kidapawan native now has over 2400 Fide rating.
A cash prize of P20,000 will go to the champion while the next four placers will pocket P10,000, P7,000, P5,000 and P3,000, respectively. The sixth to 10th chessers will go home with P1,000 each. (MLSA)
