Open to NCFP members only, the two-day leg features competitions in boys and girls under-16, under-18 and the premier under-20 divisions on Saturday and the under-8, under-10, under-12 and under-14 categories on Sunday. The Tornelo chess platform will be used and a 10-minute, five-second increment time control will be enforced.
“The youth championships are among the NCFP’s main programs and I am so elated because we are able to still hold these events amid the Covid-19 pandemic,” NCFP President Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay said. “I hope this tournament will galvanize the seal of our young chess players.”
The top finishers will qualify for the National Age Group Championships semifinals in May and eventually the Grand Finals, which will be done over-the-board in June, assuming the pandemic situation improves.
Tournament director Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, who thanked Marinduque board members John Pelaez and Verlie Quindoza for supporting the tournament, said there would be a trial event on Thursday starting at 8 p.m.
A total of 87 boys and 37 girls have already registered and organizers are still accepting more until Wednesday). For more details, interested parties may visit National Chess Federation of the Philippines on https://www.facebook.com/107037408127720/posts/108938014604326/ or contact Michelle Yaon at 0910-372615 for boys, Susan Neri at 0933-5505019 for girls and Dr. Fred Paez, NCFP assistant executive director for Southern Luzon, at 0921-2728172 for more details.