US Master Rodrigo Atutubo is set to defend his title in the 2nd Antonio Ivan S. Aguirre Negros Open Individual Chess Championship on April 4 to April 25, 2010 at the lobby of Top’s Millenium Plaza Bowling Lanes along 10th/Hilado Streets, Capitol Shopping Center, Bacolod City.

One hundred six (106) players already confirmed their participation with 48 players still undecided.

Trophies were already displayed at the official venue, according to the organizers. Registration is going on and will end April 2 at 6 pm with no extension at the same venue. Registration fee is pegged at P200 per player.

The chessfest is the first big chess event this year and the second consecutive championship sponsored by US-based Negrense chess patron and book author Antonio Ivan s. Aguirre, CPA, CFE, CSI, MBA who will arrive in time for the opening.

The event, organized and officiated by the Game Royale Aficionados of Negros, Inc. headed by Dr. Alfonso Teorima in partnership with Top’s Millennium Plaza Bowling Lanes, Inc. management. The tournament is a 7-round Swiss system (1-hour 20 moves + 1 hour-to-finish-the-game) competition is open to male and female players from Negros island and guest players from neighboring cities outside Negros who must know how to record chess games through either the Descriptive English or Algebraic Notation and must provide their own tournament-size chess sets and chess clocks.

There will be no age limit in the tournament and it will also be open to GMs, IMs, FMs and NMs.

Prizes awaiting the top finishers of the event are: for the Champion P5,000 plus 42-inch, four-legged "King" trophy; for the 1st runner-up P4,000 plus 36-inch, four-legged "Queen" trophy; for the 2nd Runner-up P3,000 plus 30-inch, four-legged "Rook" trophy; for the 3rd Runner-up P2,000 plus 27-inch, four-legged "Bishop" trophy; and for the 4th runner-up P1,000 plus 24-inch, four-legged "Knight" trophy.

The 6th to 20th placed finishers will each receive chess set with mat and bag.

Meanwhile, the top scorers in the female category will get P700 for first place plus gold chess medal; P500 for 2nd Place plus silver chess medal; and P300 for 3rd place plus bronze chess medal.

The top three scorers in the Kiddies (13 years old and below) category will also get P500 for 1st place plus gold chess medal; P300 for 2nd place plus silver chess medal; and P200 for 3rd place plus bronze chess medal.

For more information, interested participants may contact the following: Mr. Gilbert Villanueva, head, Registration Committee through mobile no. 0926-4790537 and Mr. Dodz Felisilda, tournament director and chief arbiter through tel. no. 707-0421 and mobile nos. 0917-6078373 or 0919-658-1254.*