by Marlon Bernardino
THE OLOPSC Parents Teachers Association Inc. in coordination with the Concepcion Dos Chess Club, is staging the 1st Inter School Individual Chess Championship on August 31 at the OLOPSC DS Hall (Our Lady of Perpetual Succor College-Dionisio A. Salvador Hall) Campus located in General Ordoñez St. Concepcion Uno, Marikina City.
The one-day National Chess Federation of the Philippines sanctioned tournament is open to all non titled, rated and non rated chess players according to PTA-VP (Parents Teachers Association-Vice President) and Project Chairman Marvin Manalang.
The tournament shall be divided into 2 divisions, Kiddies (12 years old and below born 2007 with maximum rating of 2050 and below) and Juniors (17 years old and below born 2002 with maximum rating of 2050 and below) he added.
"Mark your calendar chess enthusiasts and make the best move ever in this battle of the squares." said Pastor Ranier Pascual of Concepcion Dos Chess Club.
"We do this to promote chess in the grass-roots level and discover future chess talents," said OLOPSC chess coach Mark Rodrigo.
Registration fee is P300 (On-Site Registration is P350) for the seven-round Swiss System tournament. Time control is 20 minutes plus 5 seconds delay mode.
The Kiddies champion will take home P2,000 plus Plaque, the second placer will pocket P1,500 plus medal, the third placer will earn P1,000 plus medal, while fourth to fifth will receive P500 each plus medals and sixth to tenth will get medals.
Special prizes for the Most Number of Atendees (Plaque), Top Olopscian Kiddie (Plaque) and Top Olopscian Junior (Plaque).
The Juniors winner, meantime will earn P4,000 plus Plaque, the second placer will get P2,000 plus medal, the third placer will pocket P1,000 plus medal, the fourth will receive P700 plus medal, the fifth will bring home P600 plus medal, the sixth will went home P500 plus medal and seventh to tenth placers will receive P300 plus medals.
Among the early entries are Mervin Sebastian Manalang, a grade five pupil of OLOPSC, Tabitha Cara Pascual, a grade 5 varsity player of Marikina Christian Integrated School (MCIS)and Adrian Alarcon, grade 2 varsity chess player of Marikina Christian Integrated School (MCIS).
For more details, call or text OLOPSC chess coach Mark Rodrigo at 0966-7258815 and Chief arbiter Alexander "Alex" Dinoy at 0995-7563177 and 0918-3705750 for complete details.-Marlon Bernardino-