THE JEWM-Mayor Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Kadayawan Chess Open Tournament fires off Aug. 21-22 at the Davao Doctor's College along Malvar St. with cash prizes going out to the winners.
The two-day event is open to titled and non-titled players with the champion getting P5,000 and a trophy and the second placer bagging P2,500 plus trophy.
Cash prizes and medals will also be awarded to the third and fourth finishers. There will be special awards with the best players in elementary, high school and college and top bets in the executive, employee and senior getting medals.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) 11 regional director James Infiesto said Davao City's topnotch players and those in the neighboring areas are seeing action.
Heading the field is International Master candidate Reggie Olay and national masters Jonathan Tan, Alex Lupian, Allan "Aki" Macala, Miguel Te and Prospero Cruz.
Also competing are US Master Peter Tidoy, Ariel and Arnel Aton and FM candidates Austin Jacob Literatus and John Ray Batucan.
Davao's young guns in chess like CM Candidate Rowelyn Joy Acedo, Ella Grace Moulic, Dhona and Irish Yngayo and Marianne Infiesto are also in the field.
Also joining are Panabo's NM Cedric Magno, Henry Lopez and youth sensation Clark Kent Anabieza, Aglipay 8 Oberio of the Island Garden City of Samal, General Santos City's Asean veteran Jeazzier Kline Surposa and youth champ Alberto Diolola and Elias Banguiran.
Heading the list in the Executives are Engr. Allan Diez, NCFP chairman for Mindanao Grassroots, Jun Atmosfera, Atty. Jong Guevarra, president of the Metro Toril Chess Association, Melzar Galicia and Multicar's GM Maning Eva.
Organizers have invited Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to grace the opening ceremonies this Saturday. Other invited guests include Willie Tan of JEWM Agro Industrial Corporation, Dr. Rizalina Pangan, school President of Davao Doctor's College, Manuel "Gogo" Alba of NCFP's Special Events and Davao Doctor's College Sports Coordinator Lemuel Bayron.