THE Philippine Sports Commission (“PSC”), through Commissioner Raymond Charles Maxey, has expressed its full support and endorsement of the 10th Kidapawan Open Chess Championship which opens today at the Bro. Leonard Sonza Hall of the Notre Dame of Kidapawan College, Datu Ingkal Street, Kidapawan City.
The Kidapawan Open Chess Championship is in line with the PSC’s thrust to promote grassroots-based sports events and tournaments to discover and hone the skills of our local players and talents, including chess where the Philippines also competes in the international level.
Maxey has been an ardent supporter of the Kidapawan Open Chess Championship since its start in 2009 when he was still the sports editor of Sun Star Davao.
He has witnessed chess grandmasters, international masters and national masters pit their skills with local chess players in Mindanao, thus, giving Mindanaoan chess players the opportunity to compete at the top level.
Megatesting Center, Inc., one of the country’s top materials testing laboratory, has also expressed its support to the 10th Kidapawan Open Chess Championship. Megatesting’s president and CEO Gerry D. Gascon, will donate the champion’s purse of P25,000 for the 10th Kidapawan Open Chess Championship. Gascon and Megatesting have supported various sports events and activities as his contribution to the development of sports in the country.
This year, the tournament organized by the Kidapawan Chess Club, Inc. and Batch 85 – Notre Dame of Kidapawan Boys and Girls HS Alumni Association, Inc., will also give away give away cash prizes to the rest of the top 10 placers.
Special prizes and medals also await the best kiddie player, best junior player and best female player.
Grandmaster Darwin Laylo, GM-elect Ronald Dableo and International Master Oliver Dimakiling on Friday arrived in Davao City from Metro Manila and took a land trip to Kidapawan to compete in the chessfest.
Fide master John Marvin Miciano will also show his wares in the meet.
Davao del Norte’s Jason Salubre, the defending champion, will lead the Mindanaoan chess players. (PR)