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TANDAG CITY: ALL eyes will on Team Oriental Mindoro
when the 1st Vicente I. Pimentel, Sr. Memorial Inter-Province
National Chess Championship opens Thursday at the Surigao del Sur
Polytechnic State Colleges.
Making up the team supported by
Gov. Arnan Panaligan of Oriental Mindoro are Chess Olympiad veteran
International Master Ronald Bancod, National Artists Chess
Championship winners Christopher Castellano and Albert Rivera,
former University Athletic Association of the Philippines top player
Jojo Aquino and six-time RP Executive Chess champion Jenny Mayor.
“Jenny Mayor can be a board two
player on any other team, but he’s just a reserve player for
Oriental Mindoro. That shows the depth of the team,” said
International Arbiter Willie Abalos.
But don’t count out home team
Surigao del Sur-Tandag City, Palawan and Rizal.
Surigao del Sur will be bannered
by IM Richard Bitoon while Palawan and Rizal will be skippered by GM
Bong Villamayor and National Master Oliver Barbosa, respectively.
“It will be a good opportunity
for chess-loving fans in Mindanao to get a closer look at their
favorite national players and see how good they play,” said
National Chess Federation of the Philippines President Prospero
“Butch” Pichay.
--Noli Cruz
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