Ozamiz City — Chess enthusiasts are set to converge in Misamis Occidental as the province celebrates its 94th founding anniversary with the inauguration of the Governor Henry Oaminal 7-in-1 Chess Festival from November 10 to 12 at the Ozamiz City Auditorium.
According to Philippines News Agency, director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and president of the Asenso Misamis Occidental Chess Association (AMOFCA), this event will mark the first occasion where elite players from Visayas will compete against their counterparts from Mindanao. The Visayas delegation includes esteemed players like International Masters (IM) Rico Mascarinas, Joel Pimentel, and Kim Steven Yap, along with a roster of FIDE Masters and National Masters.
The Mindanao team is equally formidable, boasting the skills of IM Richilieu Salcedo III, FM Victor Lluch, and a strong selection of National Masters. The overall team result will be decided by the collective scores of all the participating players.
In addition to the inter-regional competition, a friendly match between Northern Mindanao (Region 10) and the Rest of Mindanao (Region 9) will take place across 23 boards, with Northern Mindanao seeking to defend their victory from a previous match in July of the last year.
The festival’s roster for Northern Mindanao features a mix of journalists, clergy, and chess masters, including IMs and FMs, while the Rest of Mindanao's team includes a similarly diverse group with National Masters and chess players of various age categories.
With the festival fast approaching, chess aficionados from both regions are preparing to witness a showcase of strategy and competition that promises to add to the rich chess heritage of the Philippines.