THE country's first ever 8-in-1 Chess Festival held November 10-12 at the City Auditorium in Ozamiz City was truly a big boost to Philippine chess promotion-wise--globally.
With host Misamis Occidental Governor Henry S. Oaminal and his son Ozamiz City Mayor Indy Oaminal doubling the cash prizes to more than P1 million for the various exciting events packed in three days, hundreds of participants from all over the country were left in awe, appreciating the pre-Christmas spectacle on 64-square-board, even those who failed to cut.
International Master Richelieu Salcedo III of the PAGLAUM Misamis Oriental team won the individual blitz championship and La Carlota City in the team blitz event, while Fide Master Ellan Asuela reigned supreme in the rapid contest along with his Cagayan de Oro-based MindMovers squad to go home over P200,000 richer.
Fide Master Alekhine Nouri was convincing at 17 years old when he ruled the Battle of Champions, which also featured 13-time Philippine Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr and fellow Olympiad veteran GM Darwin Laylo in a 10-player tourney conducted under the probing eyes of Hall of Famer GM Eugene Torre.
The recent chess festivity in this Northern side of Mindanao also brought to life the Philippine chess bloggers such as No.1 Filipino chess YouTuber IM Roderick 'Kamatyas' Nava and Biyaherong Arbiter AIM Mark John Centillo who proudly reported to chief organizer Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo that his live streaming alone had already gained 4 million viewers as of Sunday, November 19 and is still counting.
"The Chess Extravaganza in celebration of the Ozamiz City Fiesta in July and the just concluded Provincial Anniversary of Misamis Occidental 8 in I Chess Festival had eventually established Ozamiz City as the new Mecca of Chess not only in Mindanao but the entire Philippines," said veteran journalist and chess organizer Joselito Dormitorio.
"The Ozamiz Chess Festival was indeed chess to the max with nineteen rounds in one day and an astonishing 1.6M total in cash prizes," shared IM Joel Pimentel, the inaugural champion of the Asenso MisOcc National Chess Tournament held at nearby AYA Hotel and Residences in Clarin, Misamis Occidental last July.
Capping the cash-rich 9 in 1 tourney that also saw the Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro's young talents dominating the age-group rivalries and Northern Mindanao defeating the Rest of Mindanao in over 20-board challenge is the Visayas team's triumph against the best of Mindanao in another blind pairing showdown over 17 boards.
Heavily reinforced by the top guns of Northern Mindanao, Team Mindanao appeared as too strong to handle in the Open age group with IM Salcedo, Lennon Hart Salgados, Jeriel Manlimbana, and Johnny Wellem Carzano leading the charge. But the Visayas seniors (60 above) fivesome of Dormitorio, Christopher Tubalado, Mario Mangubat, Cyril Ortega, and Jerry Areque was overwhelming in both the blitz and rapid duels opposite the Marawi pair of Cosain Magarang and Faisal Amanggay, Davao City NM James Infiesto, Misamis Oriental's Primitivo Virtudazo and Ozamiz legend Mardonio Fuentes.
The Cebu pride junior tandem of Khent Daryle Delig and Daniel Baylosis also prevailed in the early blitz matches opposite Zamboanga's John Cyrus Borce and Cagayan de Oro's Cassey Miguel Tabamo as Visayas outlasted Mindanao, 19-15 to pocket the P60,000 cash reward.
AGM Urbiztondo, president of the organizing Asenso Misamis Occidental Chess Association, said that they're committed to initiating bigger chess events in the province next year.
"It's almost certain that we have one chess tourney in July 2024 for the feast of Ozamiz and again in November for the province's anniversary celebration," Urbiztondo said.
"We're looking for the third one to make it more pleasurable and memorable for Philippine chess," he added.
