Top chessers start bid for World Cup slots

MANILA, Philippines - One hundred twenty players, including 80 men, from 15 countries are set to see action in the Asian Continental chess championships which gets under way today at the Subic International Convention Center in Olongapo City.

A joint undertaking of the Asian Chess Federation and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, the 11-round tournament offers a total prize fund of $50,000 in the men’s division and $15,000 in the women’s category.

“This is a major tournament in the Asian calendar this year. We’re proud and happy to host this event for the second straight time,” said NCFP president Butch Pichay.

The tournament, held to determine the Asian qualifiers to the World Cup, was also hosted by the NCFP in Mandaue City in 2007, with GM Darwin Laylo clinching one of the 10 Asian slots.

Pichay and ACF president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan will make the ceremonial moves at 2 p.m.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Arman Arreza, ACF deputy president Toti Abundo and NCFP secretary-general Mayor Abraham “ Bambol” Tolentino will also grace the opening ceremony, along with other NCFP and SBMA officials.

GM Wesley So heads the local challenge that includes GMs Eugene Torre, Rogelio Antonio Jr., Mark Paragua, John Paul Gomez, Jayson Gonzales, Bong Villamayor and Laylo.

Zhou Jianchao, Yifan Hou, Weiqi Zhou, Li Shilong and Rui Gao will lead the Chinese contingent in the tournament that also drew the top Indian players in Krishnan Sasikiran, Surya Ganguly, Parimarjan Negi, Abhijeet Gupta, Chanda Sandipan, Das Neelotpal and Abhijeet Kunte.

Indonesia will be led by Susanto Megaranto, Sadikin Irwanto and Awan Wahono while Ehsan Ghaem Maghami, Elsan Moridiabadi, Morteza Mahjoob and Homayyon Toufighi banner the Iran team.

The Chinese are also expected to dominate the ladies side with Ju Wenjun, Tan Zhongyi and Shen Yang, Huang Qian and Zhang Xiaowen leading the charge.

Out to foil their bid are Harika Dronavalli, Tania Sachdev and Krutikka Nadig of India, Irine Kharisma Sukandar of Indonesia, Atousa Pourkashiyan and Shayesteh Ghader of Iran; Bahuyuag Mongontull of Mongolia, Mafia Muminova of Uzbekistan and Le Thanh Tu, Nguyen Thi Thanh An, Pham Le Thao Nguyen, Nguyen Thi Ma Hung and Le Thien Kim of Vietnam.

Hostilities start at 2 p.m. on May 14 after the 11 a.m. opening rites.