Battle of the GMs chess tourney starts on Friday

MANILA, Philippines - The much-awaited Battle of the GMs chess tournament starts on Friday at the Bayside Hall of the City State Hotel in Ermita, Manila, the opening ceremonies to be led by Prospero Pichay, president of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP). The 11-round tournament was originally scheduled to be held at the Ateneo de Manila Graduate School of Business at the Rockwell Center in Makati City. But was moved to City State Hotel in Manila to accommodate the expected influx of chess fans and supporters. "This is a good opportunity for our players to further hone their skills before the two major international tournaments that the country is hosting in Subic next month," Pichay said in an NCFP statement released on Thursday. Pichay will make the ceremonial opening moves at 1 p.m., along with Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino, who's NCFP secretary-general, and Willie Abalos, NCFP executive-events director. Newly-crowned Dubai Open champion Wesley So and Singapore-based GM Buenaventura "Bong" Villamayor head the star-studded line-up in the men's division. Asian Games campaigner Jedara Docena and Cristy Lamiel Bernales will banner the women's division. So, now the country's highest-rated player with an ELO of 2540, is expected to take the spotlight in the tournament, which offers a cash prize of P200,000 to the men's champion and P50,000 to the women's winner. Also in the short list of participants are GMs Eugene Torre, Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Jayson Gonzales and GM-candidates Julio Catalino Sadorra, Rolando Nolte, Richard Bitoon, John Paul Gomez, Fernie Donguines, Hamed Nouri, and Oliver Barbosa. Notably absent in the list are GMs Mark Paragua, Nelson Mariano, and Darwin Laylo. Paragua and Laylo are now campaigning in the United States, while Mariano is also now based in Singapore. Also in the women's division are Catherine Perena, Sherily Cua, Shercila Cua, Beverly Mendoza, Aices Salvador, Enerose Magno, Ylem Jose, Kimberly Jane Cunanan, Jenny Palomo, and Cheradee Chardine Camacho. Other prizes in the men's division are P100,000 for the runner-up, and P70,000 for the third placer. The fourth to sixth placers will get P50,000, P30,000, and P20,000, respectively. In the women's division, it's P40,000 for the runner-up and P30,000 for the third placer. The fourth to sixth placers will get P20,000, P15,000, and P10,000, respectively. - GMANews.TV