CLOSE to 200 participants are set to duel it out in another world-rated chess event that will open tomorrow at the Barangay Nazareth gym in Cagayan de Oro City.

Already, over 100 entrants are listed in the Individual Open and 14-Under categories with more to come in the Tatluhan team competition of the two-day chessfest dubbed as 4th Congressman Rufus Rodriguez and 1st Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez Fide Chess Tournament.

LOCAL CHESS BOOM. Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez convened with the organizers of the 4th Cong. Rufus Rodriguez and 1st Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez Chess Tournament, ahead of its opening day on January 28 at the Nazareth Gymnasium. Present during the meeting were Fr. Vic Arellano, Jaime Frias, Joebel Caayupan, Lorenzo Cuizon, and Aldwin Daculan. Together with Cong. Rufus, they discussed the final details of the tournament which comprise a total of P150,000 in cash prizes, medals, and trophies for the winners in the open category, 14 under category, and team open. Contributed Photos

“We put up P50,000 as the champion’s purse in the team competition that already has 21 registered teams. Ang uban ayha pa sab magbuo sa ilang team after the individual open,” tournament director Fr. Vic Arellano told Gold Star Daily.

Arellano said the P150-thousand-rich tournament also drew support from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) which recently delivered 50 chess sets from Manila for the purpose.

“Dakong kaayong tabang after sa Rufus Cup magamit ug mapuslan kini nga piyesa from the PSC sa sunod pa nato nga mga padula,” Arellano said.

Here is the breakdown of cash prizes:

January 28:
INDIVIDUAL OPEN CATEGORY:
Champion P10,000 + Trophy
2nd place P7,000 + Medal
3rd place P5,000 + Medal
4th place P3,000
5th place P1,000
6th – 10th place P500 each
Special Award:
Top 1 senior (60 above) P700
Top 2 senior (60 above) P500
Top 3 senior (60 above) P300
Top 1 lady P300
Top 2 lady P200
14 UNDER CATEGORY:
Champion P2,000 + Trophy
2nd place P1,500 + Medal
3rd place P1,000 + Medal
4th place P700 + Medal
5th place P500 + Medal
6th – 10th place P300 + Medal
Special Award:
11th – 15th place (girls only) P200 each

January 29:
TEAM TATLOHAN OPEN:
Champion P50,000 + Trophy
2nd place P30,000 + Trophy
3rd place P15,000 + Trophy
4th place P10,000
5th place P7,000
6th – 10th place P3,000 each
Special awards:
Top Board 1 P1,000 + medal
Top Board 2 P1,000 + medal
Top Board 3 P1,000 + medal