About 23 Checkmate kids who qualified in the three elimination stages will vie for the 12 semifinal slots in this three-day affair organized by the Metropolitan Chess Club.
Seventeen-year old Marlon Alzona, who topped the junior division in the last elimination leg held over the weekend, earned one of the five berths to advance in the semifinals.
The double round robin system will be used in the junior division in which the top two winners will advance into the finals.