MCA Amateur Chess League underway

Fifth District Councilor Cita Astals will be the guest of honor in the launching of the Metropolitan Chess Association (MCA) Amateur League at 7:30 a.m. today at the Lotus Garden Hote on P. Faura/Mabini in Malate.

A brief opening ceremony, highlighted by the ceremonial moves between Councilor Astals and Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr., will be held before the hostilities begin at 8 a.m.

Considered one of the biggest local team competitions in the country, the event is jointly supported by Red Bull, Purefoods Carne Norte, Western Union, Touch Mobile, Glutaphos of Pascual Laboratories, Pinewood Village, Filipinas Shell and Ortigas & Co. Partnership Ltd.

More than P150,000 in cash prizes will be contested by various chess clubs and associations in the country. The champion receives P50,000 plus trophy, second placer P30,000, third P20,000, fourth P15,000, fifth P10,000, sixth P7,000 and seventh-10th P5,000 each.