THIS year’s Battle of Champions, a featured side event of the cash-rich 5th Asenso Ozamiz Open Chess Tournament, is set to serve as a high-stakes challenge for some of the country’s top chess masters.
To date, no grandmaster from Ozamiz has claimed victory in the Battle of Champions, which was won in 2023 and 2024 by young Ilonggo talents FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri and International Master Joel Pimentel from Escalante, Negros Oriental, respectively.
Grandmasters Daniel Quizon, the reigning Philippine Men’s Open and Ozamiz Open champion; Darwin Laylo, a two-time National Open winner; and Rogelio Antonio Jr., a 13-time Philippine Open titlist, have confirmed their participation in the 2025 edition of the event.
The tournament is set this coming weekend, July 12–13, at the Ozamiz City Gymnasium.
According to organizer Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo, three more Filipino GMs — Eugene Torre, Jayson Gonzales, and Janelle Mae Frayna — are flying in on July 11.
Torre, a hall of famer and frequent Ozamiz visitor, is expected to take part in the ceremonial opening alongside Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal, Ozamiz City Mayor Sam Fuentes, Reps. Sancho Fernando ‘Ando’ Oaminal, and Atty. Henry ‘Indy’ Oaminal Jr., and Gonzales, who is also executive director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
It remains unclear if Gonzales — fresh off a runner-up finish in the Penang Makruk chess tournament in Malaysia — and Frayna, the country’s lone woman GM, will compete in the Battle of Champions.
They may instead join a simultaneous exhibition event on the opening day.
Frayna and fellow members of the national women’s team are already registered for the Open category, which offers over P500,000 in total cash prizes.
“Whatever the outcome, the grandmasters in Ozamiz stand a good chance of finally nailing the Battle of Champions title, as the previous winners won’t be competing this year,” said Urbiztondo, noting that Pimentel is now working as a chess trainer in Dubai.
Nouri, who won the inaugural title, did not return to defend it last year, after the Battle of Champions was limited to male players holding either GM or IM titles.
In addition to Quizon, Laylo and Antonio, other contenders for the P25,000 top prize include International Masters Christian Gian Karlo Arca, representing Mindanao; Michael Concio Jr., the country’s top-rated junior; Rolando Nolte, who holds two GM norms; Ronald Bancod of Manila; and Cebu’s Kim Steven Yap.
