Russian Grandmasters Ivan Popov and Anton Demchenko will banner the crack roster in the Philippine International Chess Championship starting at 2 p.m. Saturday at Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City.
With an Elo rating of 2622, Popov is the top seed, followed by Demchenko (2596), in the $30,000-event that lured a total of 15 GMs, including United States-based Filipino Julio Catalino Sadorra who also boasts an Elo 2596.
Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, a former board 1 player of the Ateneo chess team, is the guest of honor and speaker during the opening ceremony also to be graced by Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr. and Philippine Sports Commission chair Ricardo Garcia.
Joining them are officers of the organizing National Chess Federation of the Philippines—president and chair Prospero Pichay Jr.; secretary general and Cavite Rep. Abraham Tolentino, also the Fide secretary general; and vice presidents party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares and Ruel Canobas.
Sadorra, who manned board one for the Philippines in this year’s Tromso Chess Olympiad, will spearhead the local challenge in the PSC-sponsored event supported by Puregold, Microtel by Wyndham, Burlington, Asian Union Bank, Harolds Hotel and the POC.
Other Filipino GMs entered are Darwin Laylo (Elo 2500), Mark Paragua (2484), Rogelio Barcenilla (2455), the ageless Eugene Torre (2448) and Richard Bitoon (2413).
Also seeing action in the Open division are Woman International Masters Janelle Mae Frayna, Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Mikee Charlene Suede, who earned the WIM title outright after ruling the Girls division of the Asian Juniors Chess Championships held in Tagaytay City.