LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -The 7th Pangasinan Age Group Chess Championship which opened recently at the Pangasinan Training and Development Council (PTDC) was a resounding success with the huge number of participants totaling to over 550, the biggest record since the project was launched by the provincial government in 2010.
Conceptualized mainly to train and discover potential homegrown woodpushers, the project became more popular as it caught the attention of other chess enthusiasts from outside Pangasinan who come to the province to compete.
For this year’s edition of the chess championship, participants not only came from 24 towns and cities in Pangasinan (as listed in the registration) but a large number came from various places like Zambales, Pampanga, Baguio, Cavite, Rizal, La Union, Ilocos Norte, Bulacan, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Bataan, Las Pinas, Benguet, and even as far as Calegu Catablan in Aklan.
Amazed over the successful turn-out in the registration, Pangasinan Sports and Development and Management Council (PSDMC) Executive Officer Modesto Operania who represented Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III, thanked the participants as he stated that the age group chess tournament serves as the ‘initial test’ for local chess players who participated in the provincial government-sponsored chess clinics held in two consecutive weekends last month.
Operania stressed that the project which was a pet project of then governor and now 5th district Representative Amado T. Espino, Jr., is being continued by his son with the inclusion of more sports activities to help hone the athletic prowess of Pangasinense youth in different sporting events.
Organized by the Pangasinan Chess League (PCL) headed by Don Sison and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), the activity is free of charge.
Participants in the age group chess tournament will battle for dominance from October 7 to 8 in the following age divisions: 8 and under, 10 and under, 12 and under, 14 and under, 16 and under, 18 and under, and 20 and under.
Closing and awarding ceremony will be held at 5PM tomorrow, October 8, at the PTDC.
By Dexter A. See