THE 15TH edition of the Baguio Centermall Non-Masters Chess tournament gets underway Sept. 4 and 5 with cash prizes and trophies awaiting the top three finishers.
Two divisions will be played in the tournament dubbed Baguio Day Cup as part of the city’s 101st charter day celebration to be held at the Chess Gallery, 4th floor of the mall.
Arnie Ignacio, the event’s coordinator, said the purpose of the event is to promote the board game of chess especially among the youth while facilitating the development of talented enthusiast’s skills and confidence.
“Their skills and strategies will surely be highly-tested in these tournaments with a chance of bringing home cash prizes and trophies but will have the privilege of representing our community,” Ignacio said of the seven-round Swiss system tournament.
Finest chess players in the country are anticipated to square off in the open division to clinch the top prize of P7,000 with a trophy, while the second placer will bring home P5,000 and a trophy.
The third placer will receive P3,000 plus a trophy, while the fourth and fifth placer gets P1,000 and P800, respectively, with the 6th to 10th finishers to bring home P500 each.
A P5,000 cash prize and trophies await the top winner in the kiddies’ division, while trophies and cash prizes of P3,000 and P1,500 will be given to second and third placers.
Fourth place finishers in the kiddies division will bring home P1,000 and the fifth place gets P800 while the 6th to 10th placers will salvage P500.
Trophies also await the special awardees for top junior, top lady and top senior while top nine kiddies players will receive P300.
Registration forms are currently available at the BCM Chess Gallery located at the fourth floor which started since Aug. 1 and will end on Sept. 1 with a registration fee of P150. Late registrants will be charged P250 for the open category while the kiddie divisions will be charged P200.
For further inquiries, participants may call Ignacio at 444-9346 or 444-9712. (Roderick Osis)