LOWLY-rated Mindanao chess players will have something to cheer.
Lawyer Allan Q. Cabiten, formerly with the Office of the Ombudsman Mindanao, will be sponsoring at least two online chess tournaments with a total cash prizes of P10,000.
The first part of the "Atty. Alan Quarantine Cup" will be held on Saturday, May 2, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Lichess.com site.
"My good friend Alan will be sponsoring this event for Mindanao players only with March NCFP rating of 2000 and below. However, FIDE rated 2000 below players not listed on NCFP are also allowed to play," said fellow Davao-based lawyer Jong Guevarra Jr. on his Facebook wall.
Already, Cagayan de Oro pawnpushers Ruelle "Tawing" Canino, Danilo Obeso, Jun Gunayan, Fr. Vic Arellano and Jan Vincent Cayaba have signified their participation with some others expected to beat the deadline via online registration.
To be facilitated by Ely Acas, the day-long blitz tourney will have time control of 3 minutes plus one second increment.
According to Guevarra, participants must register their real names, and that "the organizers have the right to investigate the games of the champion or runner-ups."
"Therefore, you are requested not to give your lichess account to any higher rated player to play for you," Guevarra warned, fully aware of some cheaters who spoiled the online chess fun in some previous competitions.
The prizes are champ -- P1,200, 2nd -- P800, 3rd -- P600, 4th -- P500, 5th -- P400, 6th-10th -- P300 each.