Davao to host Asean chessfest
MANILA - Filipino woodpushers are looking to dominate the boards once more in the 19th edition of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation Age Group+ Chess Championship slated to be held in Davao City on June 17 to 27.
After an astounding 83 gold, 37 silver and 29 bronze medal performance last year in Pahang, Malaysia, National Chess Federation of the Philippines President Congressman Prospero Pichay is confident that the Filipinos would deliver.
“In the last Asean held in Malaysia, we became overall Champions. I believe we can defend our title. Yes, I think we can even when we expect to have more participants this year,” Pichay said in a press conference held at the Philippine Sports Commission yesterday.
Some 500 chess players from over 10 different countries are expected to compete in the event that will featue 14 age groups under the junior division and two age groups in the senior division.
AAG director and Davao coordinator James Infiento said that aside from medals, winners from the event will also obtain an outright World Chess Federation’s Fide Master and International Master chess titles.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Charles Maxey expressed his positive expectations in the coming championship and said that, “this only goes to show that despite the area being under Martial Law, peace reigns in Mindanao and that we use sports to promote peace.”
Qualifying legs will be held in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to determine the official chess players who will represent the country in the chess tournament.
The Philippines last hosted the competition in 2010 in Subic.