Tagaytay hosts Asian Chess Zonal

MANILA, Philippines - Tagaytay City will stage the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship through the initiative of Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino with World Cup slots at stake in the event set Jan. 22-30 at Tagaytay International Convention Center.

Tolentino will host the event for the second time in his capacity as president of Asian Zone 3.3.

“The city will make sure all participants, especially the foreigners, enjoy their stay here (Tagaytay),” said Tolentino, also the secretary-general of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, who drew praises from foreign delegations for the smooth running of the 2011 edition won by Indonesian Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto.

Other than the cash prizes, participants will be vying for two berths in the World Chess Cup 2013 slated Aug. 10-Sept. 5 in Tromso, Norway.

Megaranto will be back to defend his title against a strong field led by top Filipino GM Wesley So, who took a break from his studies in the US to seek another stint in the biennial World Cup.

“Wesley arrived Saturday and is raring to bring pride and joy to his countrymen,” said Tolentino.

Also expected to contend for the men’s crown are the Vietnamese and the Indonesians.

The top lady finisher will advance to the Women’s World Championship in September.

GM Mark Paragua, winner of the recent PSC International Chess Cup, placed second to Megaranto in 2011 and also advanced to the World Cup.

Singaporean International Li Ruofan ruled the distaff side and represented the zone in the Women’s World Championship.

Thus far, GM Oliver Barbosa is the only Filipino assured of a slot in the World Cup after placing fifth in the Asian Chess Championship held in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, last May.