The National Chess Federation of the Philippines is teamming up with Negros Oriental for the staging of the FIDE-rated National Age Group Championship Eliminations slated May 31 to June 6 at the Oriental Convention Center in Dumaguete City.
The week-long event, presented by Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria, has drawn a record-breaking 500 participants, the most since the founding of the annual event 24 years ago.
They will be contesting in 10 categories—boys’ under-18, U16, U14 and U12 and girls’ U18, U16, U14 and U12.
The top eight of each division will advance to the Grand Finals set June 22 to 30 at the Dapitan Sports Complex, Zamboanga del Norte.
“Our goal is to produce future champions,” said NCFP chief executive officer Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales.
Apart from Sagarbarria, GM Eugene Torre, NCFP chairman/president Butch Pichay, Negros Oriental Congressman Manuel Sagarbarria, Negros Club 64’s Adji Alamillo and Little Kings Men’s Ernesto Torres will grace the inaugurals on Friday.
