by Marlon Bernardino
Olympic bound International Master (IM) Jan Emmanuel Garcia will lead some of the country's top woodpushers in the Candidate Master (CM) Jerish John Dalde Velarde 12th Birthday Cup- PCCOnline Chess Challenge two (2) minutes blitz, 'Knock-Out' Format on August 13, 2018, 6pm at the Pinoy Chess Club Online Facebook site.

Garcia, the head coach of Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) chess team is in a rigid training right now preparing for this year's 43rd Chess Olympiad to be held on September 23 to October 6, 2018 in Batumi, Georgia.

Also seeing action are International Master (IM) Paulo Bersamina, International Master (IM) Joel Pimentel Jr., Fide Master (FM) Alekhine "Bbking" Nouri, Fide Master (FM) Nelson "Elo" Mariano III,Fide Master (FM) Narquingden Reyes, (WFM) Woman Fide Master Cherry Ann Mejia, Fide Master (FM) elect Daniel Quizon, National Master (NM) Nicomedes Alisangco, National Master Alcon John Datu, National Master Raymond Salcedo, National Master (NM) Marc Christian Nazario, Woman National Master (WNM) Jean Karen Enriquez, Jeth Romy Morado, Walt Allen Talan, Rowell Roque, Luffe Magdalaga, Alfred Rapanot and Jerome Villanueva, among others.

"Enjoy and good luck, players." said tournament director Fide National Arbiter (FNA) engineer Edilberto Alve Velarde Jr., the father of Candidate Master (CM) Jerish John Dalde Velarde of Lapu Lapu City, Cebu.

"GM's and IM's participants will be advancing automatically to round 2 with respect to their status and at the same time attract more player." said PCCOnline facilitator FNA Noel Morales.

FNA Noel Morales is the chief arbiter and assisted by NA Cecilio "Ely" Acas, FNA Joseph Gener "Jojo" Palero and CNA Byron Villar.

A cash prize of P1,500 await the top player while the next three placers will pocket P1,000, P700 and P500, respectively. P300 will receive Top Lady Performer.(Marlon Bernardino)