by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines – Grandmasters (GM) Mark Paragua, Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. and Darwin Laylo and Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Janelle Mae Frayna will be under the microscope when they play against fellow Filipino counterparts in the Baby Uno Chess Challenge dubbed as Grandmaster and Attorney Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. Chess Championship on Sunday, September 6, 2020 at 11am Manila time at the lichess.org.
Paragua, Antonio, Laylo and Frayna vowed to do their best in this one-day event, free registration online chess tournament, hosted by Bethesda, Maryland USA based frontliner Dr. Joe Balinas in close cooperation with engineer Antonio Carreon Balinas and Mr. Fernan Donguines of Hybreed Apparel Collections.
" I will do my very best," said by 13-time National Open Champion Antonio, one of the student of the late Grandmaster and Attorney Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr.
The total cash prize for the event held as part of the 79th birthday celebration of the late Grandmaster Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. on September 10 is P35,000, offers a whopping top purse of P10,000 to the champion, P2,500 to the runner-up, P1,500 to the third placer and P1,000 each to the fourth and fifth placers, respectively. The sixth up to the 25th placer will also receive consolation cash prizes of P200 each while 26th to 115th placers will pocket P50 each. The top 7 finishers will also get PH Agila T-shirt.
"To All Chess Players, To Observe Fair Play Policy We (Bayanihan Chess Club) Decided to Have a New House Rules That if a Player Violates lichess terms of service with it (computer engine assistance, human assistance and piloting), his/her prizes will go to bayanihan chess club welfare fund." said Mr. Genghis K. Imperial, co-founder of organizing Bayanihan Chess Club headed by AGM Marlon Bernardino.
Also seeing action are International Masters (IM) Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Kim Steven Yap, Ricardo de Guzman, Angelo Young, Chito Garma, Petronio Roca, Barlo Nadera and Ronald Dableo, Woman International Masters (WIM) Bernadette Galas and Kylene Joy Mordido.
Others are Fide Masters (FM) Sander Severino, Jesse Noel Sales, Jony Habla, Narquingden Reyes, Alekhine Nouri, Austin Jacob Literatus, Randy Segarra, Deniel Causo and David Elorta, Woman Fide Masters (WFM) Cherry Ann Mejia, Samantha Glo Revita and Allaney Jia Doroy.
Also set to fight for their place are International Master elect Michael Concio and Eric Labog Jr., Fide Master elect Christian Mark Daluz and Woman Fide Master elect Antonella Berthe Murillo Racasa.
Also playing are National Masters (NM) Julius Sinangote, Jonathan Tan, Giovanni Mejia, Noel dela Cruz, Bob Jones Liwagon, Eden Diano, Rommel Ganzon, Edsel Montoya, Alfred Acaling III, Ronald Llavanes, Leon Marohom, Roland Joseph Perez, Jasper Rom, Elwin Retanal, Darry Bernardo, Robert Arellano, Gerry Cabellon and Homer Cunanan.
Dr. Fred Paez and engr. Joseph Galindo lead the long list of Arena Grandmasters (AGM) who will try to defend their pride that includes Henry Roger Lopez, Gavin Ong, Irwin Aton, Rudy Ibanez, Jimzon Trangia, Wilhelm Joey Ardiente, Hermie Cagatin, Emmanuel Asi and Alvin Alcala.
Not to be outdone are United States chess masters Conrado Diaz, Jojo Aquino and Dwight Dans, Canadian master Zulfikar Sali, heavyweight Sherwin Tiu, Kevin Arquero, Dr. Jenny Mayor, businessman Joselito Dormitorio, engr. Joel Hicap, Atty. Joe Aspiras, Atty. Jong Guevarra, Atty. Melzar Galicia and Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe.-Marlon Bernardino-