DAVAO City's 18th Asean Age-Group Chess Championships medalists Gabrielle and Samantha Umayan and Wesley Jovan Magbanua will join over 200 youth woodpushers who will vie for honors in the National Age Group Chess Championships-Mindanao Leg at Baywalk Hotel, Mati City, Davao Oriental set on Friday to Sunday (March 23-25).
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) regional director James Infiesto bared this in an e-mail furnished to Sun.Star Davao recently.
He also bared that other Asean age-group medalists Antonella Berthe Racasa of Luzon and Ruelle Canino of Cagayan de Oro City also confirmed to see action in the Swiss System format chessfest.
He said NCFP president Cong. Prospero Pichay, Jr. and Mati City Mayor Carlo Rabat will grace the opening ceremonies of the event that will be held in Mati City for the first time.
Rabat, in an earlier statement, said it is an honor for Mati City to host a huge chess tournament.
"I wish you all a vibrant and successful conduct of your activity and we hope that you will enjoy your stay in the city of Mati as you explore some other natural endowments of the city and learn to love Mati also, the way we do, as proud Matinians," Rabat said.
Infiesto also said, "We will only be playing one round on opening day, three rounds on the second day and two rounds on the final day. The awarding program will immediately follow after the last round," Infiesto said, adding that each player will be given one hour and 10 seconds increment to play in every round.
The first three placers in each age category will earn slots to the grand finals in Manila by April. National winners will represent the country to Asean Age-Group Chess Championships in Davao City slated June 18 to 28.
Meanwhile, a CAUP Arbiters' Seminar is also slated March 23-25 with tournament director Infiesto, also an international arbiter.