POC President Bambol Aquino welcomed the Philippine delegation and international competitors in the Asian Juniors and Girls Chess Championships in Tagaytay City.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino welcomed the participants and guests of the Asian Juniors and Girls Chess Championships at the Knights Templar Hotel in Tagaytay City on November 18, Friday.
The nine-day event will be the host for a total of 58 players from 11 countries who will be competing in the 20- years old and under tournament.
“We are expecting great matches from these young Asian masters in the championships that give opportunity for our Filipino players to get grandmaster norm and international master [IM] norms,” Business Mirror quoted Tolentino.
Tolentino is an honorary member of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) after being its former secretary general, and was also appointed as head of FIDE’s Southeast Asian Zone during his term as National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) secretary-general.
The nine-round Swiss system tournament is sponsored by the Asian Chess Federation (ACF), Philippine Sports Commission and City of Tagaytay.
Present in the opening ceremony was Cavite Vice Governor and NCFP Vice President Athena Bryana Tolentino who made the ceremonial first moves with girls’ top seed, Woman IM Assel Serikbay of Kazakhstan, PNA reported.
Also present in the opening of the tournament were ACF Executive Board member Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh of Iran and Appeals Committee members from India, Guam, Iran, Malaysia and Kazakhstan.
Spearheading the campaign of the Philippines are reigning national juniors champion FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri, girls titlist Mhage Sebastian IMs Daniel Quizon, Michael Concio, Al-Basher Buto, Andrew James Toledo, Gabriel Ryan Paradero, Ronell Co and Marlon James Piel.
The Asian Junior champion will earn a Grandmaster norm while the Asian Girls champion will earn the Women’s Grandmaster norm, in addition with the International Master (IM) and Woman International Master (WIM) titles.
Meanwhile IM and WIM norms shall be given to the silver and bronze medalists alongside the FIDE Master and FIDE Woman Master titles.
Lastly, the Asian junior and girl champions will earn their respective spots to participate in next year’s World Juniors and Girls Chess Championship.
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