TOP woodpushers in the province are seeing action on Friday, August 20, 2021, for the two-day 1st Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson Chess Tournament scheduled August 20 to 21, 2021 at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol.

Among the notable players vying for the top prize are International Master Joel Pimentel (Bacolod City), Fide Master Nelson Villanueva and National Masters Edsel Montoya of La Carlota City; Xavier John Verdun and Carlito Lavega, and Alfred Acaling III of Cadiz City; and National Master Edwin Tan of San Carlos City.

Also seeing action are Bacolod City’s Ted Ian Montoyo, Danny Maersk Mangao, Stevenson Garong, Ric Raymond dela Pena, Josevito Tapulgo, Doughlas Diego Perez and Eric Abanco; Talisay City’s Francis Glenn Panes, Jordaine Tupaz, and Modesvito Acero; Stephen Coleta (Himamaylan City), Theseus Benitez (La Carlota City), and Joseph Navarra (Murcia).

The organizer determines these players based on their National Chess Federation of the Philippines or Fide Ratings.

The tournament shall be played in Rapid Chess, 20 minutes with 5 seconds increment to finish the game, and shall be governed by Fide Laws of Chess.

This is a five-round Swiss System, with the following tie break systems in descending order of priority -- direct encounter, Buccholz system, Sonnenberger system, Median Buccholz, among others.

Meanwhile, in observance of the required health protocols, players and technical officials will wear face masks and gloves at all times. Only two boards per table with separation of luminous plastic between each player will be observed. Medical personnel shall strictly get the temperature and implement a tracking system of players and staff. Symptomatic and asymptomatic players will be disallowed to participate.

Supervising the event are National Arbiter Leo Romitman as tournament director alongside Jessie Sanchez as assistant tournament director, and NA and NM Rodolfo Toledo as chief arbiter.