THE National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) offered the hosting of the National Age-Group Chess Championship National Finals in April to Cebu.

NCFP Deputy Secretary-General Red Dumuk told SunStar Cebu that he offered the hosting of the tournament to Cebu because it has been too long since the Queen City of the South has organized or hosted a major chess tournament.

“It has been quite a while that Cebu had hosted a big event. Probaby, the last time was in 2006, which was the Asean Continental in CICC. That was when I got my FA status. That’s why the NCFP offered the hosting here because Cebu has been part of the development of chess. Hope the Cebuanos will unite and help so that the hosting of the NAGCC national finals will happen there,” Dumuk explained.

The NAGCC National Finals is the Philippines’ qualifying tournament for the Asean + Age Group Chess Championship, which will be hosted by Malaysia in June.

“I already delegated Engr. John Velarde to do the negotiations. Sayang kasi pag naibigay sa iba. This will be a chance for upcoming players in Cebu to have this tournament at their home court. Sana may tutulong (Hope we’ll get help),” added Dumuk.

Velarde, the father of young chess wizard Jerish John, is now looking for a local government unit to lean on for the hosting.

Cebu hosted the regional elimination of the NAGCC in 2014 but the low turnout of the Cebuano players made it to the national level since the date of the Visayas elimination coincides with the finals of the schools.