Five hundred woodpushers are expected to vie for honors in the Baby Uno Chess Challenge dubbed as Grandmaster and Attorney Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. Death Anniversary Free Registration Online Chess Tournament on September 27, 2020, Sunday, 11 a.m. Manila Time at lichess.org.
Backed by Bethesda, Maryland USA based frontliner Dr. Joe Balinas and engineer Antonio “Uncle Paps” Balinas, the one-day competition will feature country’s top chess players in the 21-round Swiss-System, two minutes plus two seconds increment time control format.
United States-based Grandmasters Mark Paragua, Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr. and International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia, are among the favorites in the P50,000 total pot prize tournament which offers a whopping top purse of P10,000 to the champion.
The three placed first, second and third last September 6, 2020, in another tournament celebrating the 79th birthday of GM Balinas.
All games are aired live thru the YouTube channel of Arena Grandmaster Voltaire Marc Paraguya as well Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe’s Official National Chess Federation of the Philippines Facebook channel. The tourney attracted 654 All Pinoy participants, including 100 Filipino chess masters from all over the world in the event supported by Fernan Donguines of Hybreed Apparel Collections.
Paragua, Barcenilla and Garcia expect to be challenged anew by US-based GMs Julio Catalino Sadorra and Oliver Barbosa, Italy-based GM Roland Salvador, GMs Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo and Jayson Gonzales and WGM Janelle Mae Frayna.
“This event is extra special because of the participation of GMs (Julio Catalino) Sadorra, (Roland) Salvador and (John Paul) Gomez,” said Arena Grandmaster Marlon Bernardino, founding head of the organizing Bayanihan Chess Club.
“We are also thankful for the support of Bethesda, Maryland USA based frontliner Dr. Joe Balinas and engineer Antonio “Uncle Paps” Balinas,” added Genghis Imperial, co-founder of Bayanihan Chess Club.
Meanwhile, GM Paragua won the Baby Uno Chess Challenge dubbed as Freddie Busaco Birthday Online Chess Tournament last weekend.
The New York, USA-based Paragua finished undefeated with 10.5 points on 10 wins and one draw in 11 games to win the event that drew players worldwide.
Paragua also topped the 81st Birthday celebration tourney of engineer Antonio Carreon Balinas last September 6 and the 79th Birthday celebration of Grandmaster and Attorney Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. Chess Championship last September 6 and the Stay at Home Arena tilt sponsored by former NCFP director Boojie Lim last September 6.
Veteran campaigner Sherwin Tiu took the second spot with an undefeated record of 9.5 points on eight wins and three draws.
In third place is Dubai, United Arab Emirates based Rocky Pabalan who had nine points. The event was organized by Bayanihan Chess Club headed by Arena Grandmaster Marlon Bernardino and Genghis Imperial and hosted by businessman Freddie Busaco.