Misamis Oriental's Richelieu Salcedo tops online chess tilt

CHESS sport or the mind game is not paralyzed at all with the onslaught of the dreadful coronavirus disease (Covid 19).

Thanks to online chess one can still participate in a competition while safely "staying at home" and even interact with fellow chess players across the globe.

Misamis Oriental pride, International Master (IM) Richelieu "Jongjong" Salcedo III of Inobulan, Salay, is among those who benefitted from online chess, as he reinforced anew his position as one of the Philippines' top blitz chess players.

The 28-year-old Salcedo, a mainstay of the Philippine Airforce chess team, ruled the first leg of the Rising Phoenix International Chess Championship 2020 at the famous chess website: "www.lichess.org" on March 14, 2020, according to Filipino International Master Joel "Cholo" Banawa, owner/managing director at Rising Phoenix Chess Academy.

"It was a Saturday night magkasama kami sa inu-upahan naming pad sa Taguig City. Siyempre sundalo pagod na pagod natutulog na lang ako habang si Jong (Salcedo) ay naglalaro sa online tourney," said Air Force chess teammate Lennon Hart Salgados.

Untitled Kevin Arquero of the Philippine Army chess team came second, while American Fide Master (FM) Steven Breckenridge settled for third place.

Kiddies sensation Juncin Estrella of Silang, Cavite won the top kiddies plum, while Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna of Legaspi City, Albay took the top lady award.

Banawa said the next qualifying event was held on March 21, 2020.

"This emerging new trend: Online chess tournaments has become the safest way to organize, join and participate in high caliber chess tournament without the risk of exposing one's self to the deadly Covid-19 or more popularly known as the Corona Virus 2019," said Banawa.

The time control is three minutes "blitz chess" no increment or delay, play to finish via lichess.org. No berserk option and the duration is 90 minutes using the Arena tournament format.

Free registration. Other qualifier dates are March 28, April 4, 11, 18, 25 and May 2,9, 16, 23 and 30.

The grand finals is set on June 6, 2020. The grand finalist winner will win a total of P15,000, while second and third placers will pocket P7,500 and P3,100, respectively. (Marlon Bernardino)