Chess never stops with or without lockdown.
The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) will give Filipino chess players something to look forward to amid the pandemic as it lined up a series of online tournaments this year.
The first one launched was the Southern Luzon Leg of the National Age Group Championships over the weekend while the next one would be the NCFP-Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) selection tournament unfurling Tuesday until Thursday.
The Age Group tilt, which is jointly organized by the PSC and NCFP president Butch Pichay, will select the best youth players that the country will field in the international meets while the NCFP-PSC event will serve as the basis in the formation of the national team where a monthly allowance awaits the winners.
“If you’re dreaming of becoming a national team member, this is your chance,” said tournament director and Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales.
After the Luzon leg, the event will proceed to the Visayas staging slated April 13-15 and the Mindanao edition from April 20-22.
The winners will qualify to the quarterfinals (April 27-29), then the semis (May 11-13) and the grand finals (July 2-4) where it will be played using a hybrid format of online and face-to-face games.
The NCFP has also started the Marinduque Southern Luzon Leg of the National Age Group Championship over the weekend.
Also set this year are the Southeast Asian Games qualifying tournament, World Chess Olympiad selection tournament, National Seniors and National Championships that would be capped by the Battle of Grandmasters late this year.