PUNCH Your Clock, a five-day chess tournament hosted by the University of the Philippines, takes the spotlight from March 29 to April 2 at the UP Department of Military Science and Tactics in Diliman.
International Master Ronald Bancod, who will serve as tournament director, hopes to elevate the level of competition of young players in Rapid and Blitz so they can eventually match up with the world standard.
The UP VI Silver Jubilarian Class of ’92 is at the forefront of the event in close coordination with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
“The tournament will be patterned after the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships for men and women,” said Bancod during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel that was attended as well by NCFP vice-president and former congressman Nery Colmenares.
Competitions will be played in four categories: Rapid Open, Blitz Open, Women’s Rapid and Women’s Blitz.
A cash prize of P240,000 has been earmarked in the Rapid and P240,000 in the Blitz. The top prize in the Rapid and Blitz is P40,000 each.
Participants being eyed to compete include members of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association squads as well as regional and provincial entries.
