National rapid, blitz chess tourney gets going

MANILA, Philippines - Some of the country’s top chess players clash in the 2013 National Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship which unreels today at the Philippine Sports Commission National Athletes’ Dining Hall inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The two-day, nine-round Swiss System competition is organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee.

Grandmaster Eugene Torre will do the traditional ceremonial moves along with NCFP chairman-president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. and secretary-general Cavite Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr. 

Open to all chess players who are members in good standing of the NCFP, the tournament will be played in various categories – Open, women and kiddies 14 yrs and below.

Registration fees are P200 for rapid chess and P150 for blitz chess. Fees are waived for grandmasters, international masters and women international masters. Non-NCFP members pay an additional membership fee of P300.

FIDE laws on rapid and blitz chess shall apply. Time control for rapid chess is 10 minutes plus 10 seconds increment for each player to finish the game, using the DGT clock .

Time control for blitz chess is three minutes plus two seconds increment for each player to finish the game, using the DGT clock.

 International arbiter Gene Poliarco is chief arbiter while NCFP executive director GM Jayson Gonzales is the tournament director.

For details, call up NM Edmundo Gatus at tel. No. 0939 865 5151.