FOR the first time, rivals will clash in the virtual world when the 6th Davao All Stars Vs Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro (MisOr/CDO) Online Chess Goodwill Match on June 27 and 28 via lichess.org.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP)-Davao director James Infiesto, who celebrated his birthday on June 24, bared this in a Facebook Messenger interview with SunStar Davao.
The Davao All Stars' regular and executive teams may be laden with veterans but Infiesto said, "Equal chance lang! Tie ata kami sa over the board. First time itong online. We work with the times, kaya online."
"Actually pareho lang because we have IM Dimakiling on our side. Malakas loob nila since tinalo nila kami last year," he said.
Davao All Stars regular team is bannered by Davao City's international master (IM) Oliver Dimakiling, Fide master (FM) Austin Jacob Literatus, national master (NM) Alex Lupian, John Ray Batucan, Mohammad Sacar, Carl Zirex Sato and Junmark Baldesimo; Panabo City's arena grand master (AGM) Henry Lopez and Jayson Salubre; and Aglipay Oberio of the Island Garden City of Samal.
The Davao Executives is composed of 1988 National Junior champion NM Jonathan Tan of Panabo City, engineer Allan Diez, Infiesto, lawyers Jong Guevarra and Melzar Galicia, Rey Urbiztondo, Homer Rotulo, Christopher Yap, Lyndon Sombilon and Rhynan Arce.
Infiesto said Davao region players were invited to play in the chessfest.
Meanwhile, MisOr/CDO delegation is no pushover. IM Richelleu Salcedo III, Lennon Hart Salgados, Johnnel Balquin, Christian Arroyo, Antonio Chavez, Alfredo Rapanot, Nazario Ubanan, Romeo and Ronald Canino and Randulph Dalauta will play in the regular competition while NM Levi Mercado, Jaime Frias II, Cleto Vasquez, Bryan Jose, Paul Omongos, Jayson Nabatlao, Ralph Dalauta, Resurreccion Gunayan, Abdul Abdullah and Fr. Vic Arellano are entered in the executives' event.
Team results will be based on the total scores of all the players in the regular boards and executives categories. A cash prize of P3,000 awaits the champion while the losing team gets P2,000.
However, Infiesto said the online duel will not be counted as an official goodwill tournament. "During a normal goodwill match, kung sino host, sya mag-prepare ng accomodation and meals," he added.