HOPE is brightly shining for the Cagayan de Oro chessers as they open their campaign in the Bobby D. Pacquiao Random Chess Tournament 2016 now underway at the SM Mall in General Santos City.
The week-long event, drawing the attention of who’s who in Philippine chess, is expected to be remarkably tough and exciting with the presence of leading Filipino Grandmasters and International Masters.
But the local bets, headed by Goldcrest mogul National Master Roly Tan, remain undaunted.
“We’re in full force with Roly around as team manager and participant in both the Individual Rapid and Blitz competitions. And we’re determined and confident to do better,” NM Rustum Tolentino told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
Tolentino plays alongside Johnnel Balquin, Eutemio Coquilla and Jones Maghuyop for Godcrest Team A. While NM Levi Mercado anchors Goldcrest Team B in the company of Henry Lopez, Jezrel Lopez and Ramil Sayaboc.
Oro’s youthful threesome of International Master Richelieu `Jongjong’ Salcedo III, Lennon Hart Salgados and Alfredo Rapanot see action for other teams but with same CDO spirit to carry on.
“Jong and Alfred are with their respective teams in Manila. Nitaas akong rating mao nga pasalamat ko nga gikuha gihapon ko sa linya sa Cebu,” said the young Salgados, who along with Oro compatriot Paciano Gulle, joins forces with NM Mervin Roque and Richard dela Cruz.
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.