2nd Paraw Regatta chessfest unfolds February 20th
The second edition of the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Chess Tournament unfolds Saturday, February 20th, at the Iririmaw Hall of Breakthrough Restaurant in Arevalo district with 100 of the best players from Panay and Guimaras vying for a share of the close to P14,000 in cash prizes.
The two-day chess competition coincides with the opening of the 38th Iloilo Paraw Regatta boat race as well as the start of a number of other sporting and cultural events along the beaches of Arevalo near the tournament venue.
The tournament will be a 7-round Swiss event where players will be given an hour each on the clock to finish a game. The champion goes home with P5,000; the 2nd placer pockets P3,000; the 3rd placer P2,000, 4th place gets P1,000; and 5th place wins P700. Additional special cash prizes of P500 apiece will also be awarded to the best kiddie player, best female player, best senior citizen player, best 12-under and best 8-under.
The prize fund is being provided by the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Foundation, Inc. and the special prizes by the Youth & Sports Development Division of the City Mayor’s Office.
A short opening ceremony will precede the tournament, with Councilor and concurrent Iloilo City Sports Council chair Jose Espinosa III and Department of Tourism regional director Edwin G. Trompeta making the ceremonial opening moves.
Registration for the competition, which is restricted to the first 100 bonafide residents of Panay and Guimaras on a first come-first serve basis, is now going on at the downtown Freedom Grandstand Chess Center where interested players can sign up with National Master Cesar J. Mariano. (Boy Espejo Jr.)
