WITH a massive P2-million in total cash prizes awaiting the winners, Cagayan de Oro woodpushers are brimming with excitement to partake in the Bobby D. Pacquiao Random Chess Tournament 2016 set on Feb. 19-26 at the SM Mall in General Santos City.
“Pila ka adlaw na lang molarga na `mi. This is one big chess tournament nga nakatutok ang tanan nga chess players around the country,” National Master Rustum Tolentino, last year’s most ‘winningest’ player in Oro chess, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
Barring unforeseen glitches, Cagayan de Oro-MisOr will have at least four teams bound for GenSan, vying for the richest event so far in the country across the 64-square-board.
Goldcrest mogul, NM Roly Tan is expected to lead the city delegation to the Pacman country in the company of NM Levi Mercado, Johnnel Balquin, Lennon Hart Salgados, Nazario Ubanan, Eutemio Coquilla, Lyndon Lumancas, Lorenzo Cuizon and Paciano Gulle, among others.
“Although ga-plano plano pa ko na unta makasabay sa GenSan, dako akong pasalamat personally sa initiative ni master Roly (Tan) nga iyang gihatagan og chance ang mga locals nga maka-preparar,” said Rey `Mr. Confident’ Laput, who won the Goldcrest Fischer Random Class B tourney some weeks ago.
The top-four teams in GenSan are out to receive P500,000, P250,000, P170,000 and P100,000 each plus trophies.
In Individual Rapid, the top-3 finishers will get P60,000, P35,000 and P20,000 apiece. While the Individual Blitz winner will go home P20,000 richer.
Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre serves as organizer of the cash-rich tourney.