Espino bats for sustained chess program

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Gov. Amado Espino Jr. has batted for a continued training and exposure for the top and rising chess players even as he vowed to put up a chess and sports academy next year to boost the province’s grassroots development program.

Espino made the announcement during the opening of the sixth Gov. Amado Espino Jr Cup Open chess tournament at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center gym here last Monday where he cited International Master Haridas Pascua and other local chess players for their achievements.  

He said he was motivated to establish a continuing program for chess after Pangasinan produced the first-ever IM in Asia through the late Rodolfo Cardozo, who supported the present administration’s chess program activities over the past years.

In fact, Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre hailed the province’s chess program, saying that “Pangasinan is the only province in the country that has a sound development chess program.”

The two-day tournament has drawn the participation of GMs, IMs, National Masters, FIDE Masters from as far as Zamboanga, Cebu City and Rizal province and the neighboring areas in Luzon.

Modesto Operania, executive assistant III and provincial sports coordinator, said the event lured a huge field despite the holidays with the winner receiving P25,000 and the next two getting P20,000 and P15,000, respectively.