PCAMA chess tiff slated in July

The first leg of the chess circuit of the Philippine Chess Aficionados and Masters Association (PCAMA) will be held July 17-23.

Lawyer Quirino Sagario, president of the newly-formed PCAMA, said the tournament, which was moved from its original June schedule to give way to the national juniors, will be rated by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and will be run under the long game format of two hours per player.

This means that rated local players will have the opportunity to improve their FIDE ratings while those who still have none will get the chance to have theirs.

Sagario, who is also an active campaigner in the local chess circuit, explained that their vision is to give local players a chance to gain international norms without having to spend huge amounts needed to compete abroad.

Aside from the FIDE rating, a minimum pot of P50,000 will be at stake in the nine-round Swiss System event with some category prizes going to non-masters and top juniors.

The PCAMA was formed early this year in response to the clamor of titled and untitled chessers to gain a FIDE rating. This is the first time in local chess that Filipinos can get FIDE ratings on local turf.

Two games will be held each day on July 17-18 at 1 p.m. and one game will be held daily at 6 p.m. on July 19 -23.

Registration fees are waived for all titled players while non-master participants will have to pay P300, P200 for students and P100 for kiddies. Venue will be announced later.

Registration is now in full swing at the PCAMA office at the 24th floor, Pacific Star Bldg., Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. cor. Makati Ave., Makati, 9 a.m-7 p.m.

Deadline for submission of entries is on July 16. Unpaid reservations will not be honored.

"We are inviting corporate sponsors to support this program whose long-term objective is to help the Philippines regain chess supremacy in Asia," Sagario said.