An exciting sports event is set to unfold in the province of Guimaras this summer season.

Guimaras sports man Dr. Richard Gabayoyo proposed an online chess tournament on April 10, 2021.

Gabayoyo, the current sports director of West Visayas State University (WVSU), said the event will showcase chess talents of homegrown players in the island province.

The founder of the Guimaras Players’ Center Sports Academy initiated the event not just for veterans but also for rookies, including kids. The tournament will be divided into two categories – players 13-18 years old and another from 3 years old to 12 years old. Both categories are open to all Guimarasnons.

“This event aims to provide an online chess tournament among Guimarasnon. This is also an avenue for the Guimaras chess enthusiasts to still continue playing chess amidst this COVID-19 pandemic,” Gabayoyo said.

Meanwhile, Fritz Bryan Porras will serve as the tournament’s chief arbiter. The member of the Iloilo Kisela Knights who salvaged the third place overall finish in the just-concluded Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Season 1 is also excited for the tournament.

“With regards sa Guimaras online chess tournament nga gin organize namon ni sir Richard Gabayoyo, una gid daku gd nga pasalamat kay sir Richard siya gd nag una tap sa akon nga anu mabulig namon sa Guimaras sa sports nga chess, amu na gn open ko sa iya nga despite my pandemic ang chess ya sige japon through online lang. Nagka idea sa nga pwde gale kmi kabulig sa mga Guimarasnon chess players,” Porras shared.

For Gabayoyo, as the founder of the Players’ Center Sports Academy, and as private organization they wanted the event to be successful.

“Gusto gid namon e continue ini nga program online or face to face man kag handum namon nga the Center will provide technical assistance sa maluyagon nga maghampang sang Chess. Soon we will organize the Players’ Center Chess Clinic kag amo man sa pagtukod sang mabakod nga team and to produce professinal chess players nga magahampang man sa PCAP. Ini aton handum para maka develop sang talent kag skills para ang handum sang mga pamatan-on ila malab-ot. We believe that more Guimarasnon chess players will be on the professional stage sang chess tournament kag maka produce sang national kag international chess masters as well as Grandmasters,” he said.IMT