Dimakiling.
DAVAO CITY (PNA) Jan. 7 ? The annual 8th Kidapawan Open Chess Championships is slated on Februry 6 and 7 at the Kidapawan Convention Center in Kidapawan City.
?We are again expecting more than 100 chess players from all over Mindanao and the other parts of the country,? said Dr. Ted Calica, president of the organizing Kidapawan Chess Club, Inc.
Defending champion is International Master Oliver Dimakiling, who has won it four times in a row from 2012 up to 2015.
The native of Davao City is expected to contend anew with the other top chess players coming from all over the country. The two-day event is part of the Foundation Anniversary of the host City led by Mayor Joseph A. Evangelista.
?The city government of Kidapawan has been generously supporting the sports event since its maiden staging eight years ago,?? Calica said.
The annual chess tourney has provided a challenging venue for chess enthusiasts, including new and aspiring players in the host city and the province of Cotabato to compete on a high level with the other top players in Mindanao.
In fact, the Kidapawan Open has attracted top calibre chess players as shown by its past champions.
International Master Edgar Reggie Olay, who was still then only a National Master from Kidapawan won the maiden edition in 2009.
GM Oliver Barbosa (who was still an IM) then ruled it in 2010 followed by Davao?s Reynaldo Gempero Jr. the following year.
Dimakiling, who is now based in Manila, then dominated it for four years.
The event is a nine-round Swiss System Open Tournament with time control of 30 minutes for each player for the entire game.
The champion will bring home a cash prize of P15,000 plus a medal, while the first runner-up will get P10,000 plus a medal. The second and third runners-up will be awarded P5,000 and P3,000 with medals, respectively.
The 4th to 9th runners-up will receive P1,000 each. Special awards and medals will also be given to the Best Kiddie Player, Best Junior Player, and Best Female Player.
It is a brainchild of the KCCI under the leadership of Dr. Calica and in coordination with the Kidapawan City Government thru its Sports Coordinator Ramil Deldo and the Batch 85 ? Notre Dame of Kidapawan Boys and Girls HS Alumni Association, Inc.
Mayor Evangelista expressed his full support to the 8th staging and said that the tournament not only exposes the youth of Kidapawan City to top competitive chess but also molds them as deliberate and responsible leaders.
?Many top rated players based in Metro Manila has also joined the event, thus making it one of the most anticipated events in observance of the city?s Foundation Anniversary,? said Evangelista.
Registration is now on-going for all Filipino players of all ages, rated or non-rated, male or female, residing anywhere in the Philippines. Registration fee is P300 for players residing outside Kidapawan while Kidapawan City players will only pay P200.
Players are encouraged to bring their own chess set and chess clock for the event. Deadline for registration is on February 6 at 9:00 a.m. All entries must be submitted by email at Kidapawanchessclub@yahoo.com or contact Dr. Ted P. Calica- (09392632482/(064)288-5746) or Chief Arbiter Jojo Palero (0946-4067722). ? LITO DELOS REYES
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