THE country's top chess players such as Grandmasters Eugene Torre, Joey Antonio and Darwin Laylo are expected to lead their respective teams in the cash-rich 2nd Robert Tan Memorial Cup to be slated on June 29-30 at the Limketkai Mall in Cagayan de Oro City.
"Confirmed na nga majority sa mga top guns mo-participate especially nga patsada atong venue sa Ketkai and then, attractive kaayo ang mga cash prizes," said NM Rustum Tolentino, who along with fellow master Levi Mercado, runs the Goldcrest-backed Masters Class Chess School in the City of Gold.
With a whopping P100,000 take home for the champion in team tourney and P30,000 top purse in the individual event, the FIDE-rated tourney is guaranteed to be a sure-fire hit.
The Memorial Cup's "Tatluhan" team tourney will offer P70,000 and P45,000 plus trophies 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.
"Amo sab nga gi FIDE-rated event ang individual rapid aron makakuha og international rating atong mga local players," added Mercado.