VIRAC, Catanduanes, Nov. 12 (PIA) - Two natives of Virac town will be sponsoring chess tilts in the capital town set on December 6-7, 2014 at the Catanduanes Food Garden in the town..
Engr. Jonathan C. Molod—a member of team Guam in the recent World Chess Olympics in Tromso, Norway will be sponsoring the under-23 Age Category of the Virac Invitational Chess Championships which will offer P5,000 and a TIP chess alumni trophy to the champion of the seven-round Swiss System Final.
The 2nd and 3rd placers will earn P3,000 and P2,500, respectively, in addition to a similar trophy while the 4th and 5th placers will get P2,000 and P1,500, respectively, plus a medal. The 6th to 10th placers will be awarded P1,000 each and a medal, with the 11th to 10th placers receiving a chessboard each.
There will be special cash prizes for the most represented city, barangay, college, and high school as well as top performing girl, family and island native.
On the other hand, the Under-14 Age Category is promising cash prizes of P3,000, P2,000 and P1,750 plus an IM Domingo R . Ramos trophy to the top three winners. The 4th to 5th placers gets P1,500 and P1,250 each plus a medal. The 6th to 10th placers will be given P1,000 plus a medal each. Similarly, cash prizes will be given to most represented elementary school, high school and barangay as well as top island performer, top girl performer, top family performer and youngest participant.
A side event of this category is the 5-minute Blitz Open division, with the top prize of P1,500 going to the winner while the 2nd and 3rd placers gets P1,000 and P500 respectively.
According to event director Bonifacio Molina, the twin chess competitions aims to support the intensive search for new chess talents at the grassroots that has been an annual program of the Virac municipal government.
Those interested in joining the tourneys must submit a valid ID or birth certificate and bring their own chess clocks.
A registration fee of P250 for the Under-23 entrants and P200 for Under-16 participants will also be collected.
The events are also being supported by the friends and relatives of Bonifacio Molina, the Catanduanes Tribune, Bubbles, Quicksilver, D’Etcetera Boutique, Frank Lopez Gallery, DepEd Catanduanes, and Javenel Pharmacy. (MAL/EAB/CT/PIA5/Catanduanes)