HISTORICALLY sustaining a series of world-rated chess events in Cagayan de Oro, the 4th Congressman Rufus Rodriguez and 1st Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez Fide Chess Tournament is guaranteed to be a sure-fire hit.
To be slated on January 28-29 at the Barangay Nazareth gym, the keenly-awaited tournament ― sanctioned by the world’s governing chess body Fédération Internationale des Échecs (Fide) ― has three categories for Tatluhan (team competition), Individual Open, and 14-under categories.
It offers more than P150,000 in total cash prizes, plus trophies, and medals to the lucky winners.
“The Golden Chess Friends of the chess-loving businessman Ben Wabe had set the bar of making our chess events here Fide-rated since the Mr & Mrs Leo G. Wabe Memorial Cup in November last year. And we’re happy that Congressman Rufus (has) given the green light for his tournament to be also held as one,” said Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental Chess Association president, Fr. Vic Arellano.
“The good congressman and his sister (Jocelyn) have understood well that giving our local players a chance to earn international ratings is priceless kay no need na nga modayo pa sila abroad aron maka-rating and ma-recognize sa Fide,” Arellano further told Gold Star Daily.
With P50,000, P30,000, and P15,000 awaiting the top-three winners, the rapid team competition (Tatluhan) on three boards is expected to attract top-caliber masters from around the country.
In fact, the two-day tournament’s Individual Open category has already listed Fide Master Kevin Cremer from Switzerland, Filipino FM Ellan Asuela ― winner of the 2022 Kasparov Chess Foundation Asia-Pacific Absolute Challenge in Singapore ― and former Philippine junior champion National Master Elwin Retanal among those who signified to vie for the P10,000 top purse plus trophy.
Equally interesting is the 14-under rivalry which will feature the fast-rising woodpushers in the locality such as Batang Pinoy national champions Zhaoyu Capilitan, Aszhley Aya Nicole Paquinol, and Janin Dhrey Querequere and newly-crowned GCF Fide Rapid elementary titlist Lila Alyssa Seriña.
They are expected to face a tough challenge from the likes of Keith Adriane Ilar, Quarl Maverick Vera Cruz, Sebastian Marbas, Lara Dalagan, Rena Dalagan, and Cassey Miguel Tabamo, among others.
“Kini sila nga mga batan-on ang beneficiary kaayo sa nagkakusog nga programa sa chess sa atong dapit with the help of some private entities. Excited ug kulba-kulba na sab ang mga ginikanan,” said Jaime Joshua Frias II, among Cagayan de Oro’s top chess trainers.
