National Age Group Chess Championships goes to Central Luzon

THE National Chess Federation of the Philippines’ (NCFP) search for future national team players and Grandmasters (GMs) goes to Central Luzon as it stages the National Age Group Chess Championships slated on June 3 to 7 at the SMX Convention Center in Olongapo City.

Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino, Jr. and Vice-Mayor Kaye Ann Legaspi are hosting the five-day tournament that will have categories from boys and girls Under-8 to U20 in standard, rapid and blitz.

The winners in the U14 to U20 will earn spots to the national squad wading into battle in the ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Singapore late this year with a chance of earning FIDE and International Master norms.

NCFP Chief Executive Officer GM Jayson Gonzales said they hope that by continuously staging events of this magnitude, it could produce future GMs like himself, Eugene Torre, Wesley So and WGMs like Janelle Mae Frayna. — Joey Villar