Race for Chess Olympiad slots on

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s chess cream of the crop headed by Grandmasters John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo and Joey Antonio and Woman GM Janelle Mae Frayna shoot for Olympiad slots in the Philippine National Open Championships at the Marikina Community Convention Center.

Dubbed the “Battle of Grandmasters,” the event presented by Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro and Congresswoman Maan Teodoro will award the top three of the 14-field, 13-round tournament tickets to the World Chess Olympiad set Sept. 10 to 23 next year in Budapest, Hungary. The top purse is a cool P120,000.

Also vying are International Masters Jem Garcia, Pau Bersamina, Daniel Quizon and Barlo Nadera, FIDE Masters Mark Jay Bacojo and Christian Gian Karlo Arca and Woman IM Marie Antoinette San Diego along with Vince Angelo Medina, John Jerish Velarde and Samson Cjiu Chin Lim.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines chief executive officer GM Jayson Gonzales said the champion would also represent the country in the 2024 Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games in Bangkok, Thailand, assuming it pushes through.

The opening round was being played at press time with two games each slated today and tomorrow.