MANILA---With a promise to perform well in the FIDE World Junior Under-20 Chess Championship, the 4-man Philippine team leaves for Sardinia, Italy on Monday.
The team, composed of Alekhine Fabiosa Nouri, Mhage Gerriahlou Fernandez Sebastian and their coaches Filipino and United States chess master Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. and Susan Grace Tana Neri, will see action scheduled on October 12 to 23 at the Palmasera Resort 4 in Cala Gonone, just over an hour's drive from Olbia Airport and the harbor.
The World Junior Chess Championship is an under-20 chess tournament (players must have been under 20 years old on 1 January in the year of competition) organized by the World Chess Federation (FIDE).
The idea was the brainchild of William Ritson-Morry, who organized the 1951 inaugural event to take place in Birmingham, England. Subsequently, it was held every two years until 1973, when an annual schedule was adopted. In 1983, a separate tournament for girls was established.
"We expect these young and talented players to perform well as usual and bring honor to the country," said coach Neri.
"Go Philippines. Laban Pinas. Laban para sa bayan." said chief executive officer Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales of the National Chess Federation under the leadership of it's chairman/president Rep. Prospero "Butch" Arreza Pichay Jr.
Nouri is a Filipino FIDE Master. Named after Russian chess player Alexander Alekhine, Nouri became the youngest FIDE Master in the world at the age of 7 is seeded number 80 in the Open Under 20 division who possessed an Elo Standard rating of 2251.
Sebastian, on the other hand, is seeded number 45 in the Girls Under 20 division with an Elo Standard rating of 1865.
The PH chess campaign is being supported by the Philippine Sports Commission led by chairman Jose Emmanuel "Noli" M. Eala, commissioner Olivia "Bong" Coo and executive secretary Atty. Guillermo B. Iroy Jr. while Philippine Olympic Committee president and tagaytay city mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. and deputy secretary-general Carl Sambrano, the office of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Jaime Victor B. Ledda and Fide delegate Casto "Toti" Abundo of the Asian Chess Federation help to facilitate and process the schengen visa on time of the PH chess delegation before the departure.