PHL to host Asian juniors, girls chess tiff

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines will host three major international events in the last two months of the year after the country accepted the staging of the Asian Juniors and Girls Championships from Nov. 29 to Dec. 4 in Tagaytay City.

No less than FIDE and National Chess Federation of the Phl secretary-general Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino bared the country's hosting of the annual event for 20 years old and below.

In a FIDE statement, the tournament was originally scheduled from Nov. 21-29 in Sandong, China, but the Chinese begged off at the last minute. This paved the way for Tolentino to accept the hosting of the event, which should give Filipino woodpushers a chance to get rating points and title norms by competing against the region's best.

Tolentino secured the hosting rights after he attended the FIDE Presidential Board meeting last Nov. 8 in Sochi, Russia where he met FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Our young players will now have a chance to play against best youth players in Asia," said Tolentino.

After the juniors' tilt, the country is also hosting the Phl International Chess Championship from Dec. 5-12 and the Phl Sports Commission/Puregold International Chess Championship slated Dec. 14-21 both at the Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City.