CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno is invited to grace the 10 a.m. opening of the 5th Goodwill Chess Match between Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental (CDO-MisOr) and Davao City on Friday, June 28 at the 2nd floor Green Lane of Limketkai Mall here.
“Yes, we invited the city mayor (Moreno) to share inspirational message with the participants before the ceremonial moves and drawing of lots,” said CDO-MisOr team skipper Fr. Vic Arellano.
On Thursday, June 27 right after the arrival of the Davao All Stars, there will be a simple program at Ketkai venue starting 6 p.m. with Fr. Arellano doing the invocation, sportsman Jaime Joshua Frias for his welcome message and International Arbiter (IA) James Infiesto and Fr. Arellano sharing brief history of the Mindanao Goodwill Match.
Engr. Aladino Diez will then introduce the Davao team as well as Domingo Oga Jr. for the host squad, followed by Fide National Arbiter (FNA) Lorenzo `Jun’ Cuizon’s wrap-up on the rules and mechanics of the match.
Veteran broadcaster Joe Felicilda will be the master of ceremony.
The annual Goodwill Match will serve as major highlight of the cash-rich 2nd Robert Tan Memorial Cup on June 29-30 at same venue.
The host team won the match last year behind the reinforcement of the “FEU Tamaraw Boys”, International master (IM) Richelieu Salcedo III, Lennon Hart Salgados, Alfredo Rapanot, Antonio Chavez Jr. and Christian Arroyo.
This time, however, Davao team will be reinforced by Grandmaster (GM) candidate Oliver Dimakiling alongside youthful newcomers Austin Jacob Literatus, Aglipay Oberio and Carl Zirex Sato.
“Nikusog ang puwersa sa Davao with their improved cast for regular players, pero mora’g lamang ‘ta sa executives,” said Arellano, citing that former National Shell Active Junior champion Bryan Jose, who’s currently employed with Talakag-LGU in Bukidnon, will be among the executives playing for the local team’s cause.
“Anyway, aside sa rivalry, the Davao-CDO MisOr chess match is all about unity and camaraderie promoting Mindanao chess development through friendship games in 16 boards,” added Fr. Arellano.
All participants, Arellano said, will also see action in the Memorial Cup with a guaranteed total cash prizes of P420,000.
Here’s the official lineup for Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental Team: The Regulars are 1. IM Richelieu III Salcedo – 2300, 2. NM Rustum Tolentino - 2324, 3. NM Levi Mercado – 2244, 4. Lennon Hart Salgados – 2264, 5. Allan Cantonjos – 2260, 6. Johnnel Balquin – 2231, 7. Christian Arroyo – 2169, 8. Alfredo Rapanot – 2149, 9. Nazario Ubanan – 2144, 10. Antonio Chavez, Jr. – 2168.
Oro’s Executives: 11. Jaime Joshua Frias – 2079, 12. Cleto Vasquez – 2028, 13. Mario Arroyo - 2023, 14. Resurreccion Gunayan, Jr. - 1884, 15. Domingo Oga, Jr. – unrated, 16. Fr. Vic E. Arellano – unrated. Team Captain: Fr. Vic E. Arellano.
Comprising Davao Region Team Regulars: 1. IM Oliver Dimakiling 2396, 2. FM Austin Jacob Literatus 2356, 3. NM Macacuna Macala 2213, 4. NM Alex Lupian 2122, 5. AGM Henry López 2259, 6. Jayson Salubre 2298, 7. Aglipay Oberio 2253, 8. Jimmy Dano 2225, 9. Carl Zirex Sato 2140, 10. John Ray Batucan 2104. With their Executives: 11. James Infiesto 2189, 12. Rhynan Arce 2038, 13. Allan Diez 1997, 14. Darwin Bermudez 1952, 15. Jose Dionisio Guevarra 1935, 16. Alfredo III De Veyra 1913. Team Captain is Engr. Allan Diez.