IT’S all systems go for the biggest ever chess tourney for Cagayan de Oro this year as the cash prizes are fixed and the official venue is revealed.

“There’s no turning back. Nag go signal na si bosing so, kompleto na ang detalye sa tournament (He already gave the go signal and the details for the tournament are complete),” reported National Master Rustum Tolentino, referring to fellow NM and tournament sponsor Roly Tan of Goldcrest Marketing Corporation.

The 2nd Robert Tan Memorial Chess Tournament will have a total cash prize of P420,000 plus grand trophies and medals. It will be held on June 29 to 30 at the event center (2nd floor) of the Limketkai Mall.

The Memorial Cup’s “Tatluhan” team tourney will offer P70,000 and P45,000 for the second and third placers. The fourth, fifth, sixth and 7th team finishers will receive P30,000, P20,000, P10,000 and P5,000 each, respectively.

In the individual event, the champion will go home P30,000 richer.

“Amo sab nga gi FIDE-rated event ang individual rapid aron makakuha og international rating atong mga local players,” said Levi Mercado, who along with Tolentino, runs the Goldcrest-backed Masters Class Chess School in Cagayan de Oro.

Already, the cash-rich tourney listed the FEU Tamaraws, Air Force and Army teams from Manila among those that signified early of their participation.

“Barring unforeseen glitches, all out ang support sa FEU boys sa tournament ni master (NM Tan),” said Antonio Chavez Jr., who along with fellow army man Alfredo Rapanot Jr. and Air Force guys (Lennon Hart, IM Jong Salcedo) formed part of the FEU Tamaraws’ historic title runs in the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) collegiate chess competition.