WARMING up with the Oroquieta Open just won by Manilenyo Sherwin Tiu over Northern Mindanao rivals Jefte Crebillo, Nazario Ubanan and Johnnel Balquin, the much anticipated 3rd Governor Henry Oaminal Open Chess Tournament finally opened on November 4 at the Asenso Misamis Occidental Sports and Cultural Center, Capitol Complex in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental.
From its small beginning in July 2023, one could not imagine how the Asenso Ozamiz-inspired event introduced by banking expert and Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo would quickly blossom into becoming an institution fully supported by the cream of the crop in Philippine chess today.
In just its third edition, not counting the inaugural show at the AYA Hotel and Residences in nearby Clarin town a year ago, the two-day tournament has already guaranteed the presence of the country’s three home-based active Grandmasters Eugene Torre, Rogelio Antonio Jr, and Darwin Laylo plus the defending champion in newly-minted Olympiad-produced GM Daniel Quizon, who is only 20 years old.
“They’re all here now in Oroquieta (four Filipino GMs) and the rest of the promising ones, thereby making Misamis Occidental the chess mecca of the Philippines at least for this first November week,” the hardworking Urbiztondo told Gold Star Daily, notifying that young Filipino world blitz champion FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca, 15, who just topped the National Youth and Chess School Championship in Alicia, Isabela with a perfect 7/7 score in the standard chess event, is also around to vie for nearly P500,000 in total cash prizes.
Being a Mindanaoan himself, Urbiztondo said the Panabo City pride Arca will also be given a slot to compete in the 10-man round-robin Battle of Armageddon Champions dominated last year by the now 18-year-old Fide Master Alekhine Nouri from Escalante, Negros Occidental.
“We can’t be perfect in organizing big chess events, but rest-assured that Ozamiz chess or MisOcc chess is catered towards helping the Philippine chess federation discover and develop new Filipino grandmasters among our young and budding chess talents in the countryside,” Urbiztondo said.
