DAPITAN CITY -- At least 16 pairs of pawn pushers have registered for the regional eliminations and are slugging it out here from March 28 to 30, 2009 at the Dapitan City Resort Hotel.

This is for entry into the 3rd Asian Indoor Games while the Battle of Grand Masters (GMs) is also being held here starting last March 24 and will end until March 31.

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The Regional Elimination for Zamboanga Peninsula Region, which is being done here in Dapitan, is open to all non-titled chess players who are members in good standing of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and are residents of Region 9.

Wilfredo A. Abalos, executive and events director, said players in the elimination rounds are allowed to participate in one elimination tournament only. They can no longer participate in other Regional Elimination in other parts of the country.

The top five players from each region will advance to the semifinal round, except for the National Capital Region in which the top 30 players will advance to the semifinal round, said Abalos.

The players will compete against other players in straight seven rounds Swiss System. The FIDE Laws of Chess standard game governs the tournament, he said.

Abalos said the time control is 75 minutes with increment of 30 seconds per move using digital clocks, and one hour 30 minutes using mechanical clock for each player to finish the game.

Computerized pairings are being done by the Swiss Manager Pairing Program, he added.

During the whole course of the contest, the 32 players are advised to conduct themselves in accordance with sporting fairness and decency, and must take care neither to distract nor to annoy their opponents. The players must also endeavor to settle all disputes by mutual accommodation, Abalos said.

The 2009 edition of the Battle of the GMs, which is also taking place in Dapitan City from March 24 to 31, 2009, has rating favorite GM Wesley So in solo lead.

So is said to be looking for yet another title and a way to secure 2650+ rating. His major opponent is GM Euguene Torre. Both players were supposed to have a match earlier this year but was cancelled due to So's participation at Aeroflot.

The competition has several more strong rating competitors. Among them is the Philippine champion John Paul Gomez and the strong GMs Mark Paragua, Darwin Laylo, Bong Villamayor, Rogelio Antonio, and Jayson Gonzales.

Among the women participants, the highest hopes for good performance are for Catherine Perena, the young talent Chardine Cheradee Camacho, Shercila Cua, Daisy Rivera, Beverly Mendoza, Christy Lamiel Bernales, and Jedara Docena.

The Battle of GMs is sponsored jointly by Phoenix Petroleum and Dapitan City under the leadership of Mayor Dominador G. Jalosjos Jr., who also made possible the holding of the Regional Elimination for the Asian Indoor Games here.

The City Government of Dapitan is hosting the prestigious "Battle of GMs" chess championships, an annual tournament of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, in coordination with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, headed by its president Prospero "Butch" Pichay and secretary general Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino, who have both worked closely with former Zamboanga del Norte Congressman Romeo G. Jalosjos for the hosting of the games in Dapitan City.

As of this posting, Battle of GMs participants are playing Round 7.

Other regional eliminations for the Asian Indoo Games are as follows: Region 6 - April 18-20, Kalibo, Aklan; NCR - May 2-4, Caloocan; Region III - May 9-11, Balanga, Bataan; Region I - May 6-18, Dagupan; Region IV - June 6-8, Tagaytay; Region V - June 13-15, Bicol; Region II - June 13-15, Isabela; CAR - June 20-22, Baguio; Region VII - June 27-29; Region VIII/CARAGA - June 27-29, Butuan; Region VIII - July 4-6; Region XI - July 11-13; Region X - July 17-19; Region XII - July 25-27.

The Asian Indoor Games Selection Semifinals and Finals for the Philippine Team are slated from August 4 to 8 (semifinals) and August 26 to September 6 (finals) in Metro Manila.

The Philippine team will play in the regional eliminations for the 3rd Asian Indoor Games to be held from October 30 to November 8 in Vietnam.