Olympiad veteran Filipino Grandmasters John Paul Gomez and Darwin Laylo hope to make the country proud as they lead the local charge against a group of strong internationalists in the Maharlika Pilipinas Chess League’s Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Festival unfolding Tuesday, Dec. 13, at the Family Country Hotel in General Santos City.

“Gawin lang naming lahat ng makakaya para itaguyod ang bansa natin dito,” said Laylo, an Army man.
Gomez and Laylo will be shooting the biggest share of the total P4.2 million pot staked in this five-day event including a cool P1.14 million to the champion, the richest prize in years.
But they are expected to face a foreign juggernaut headed by GMs Hovhannes Gabuzyan of Armenia, Lucas Van Foreest of the Netherlands, Vitaly Sivuk of Sweden and Pier Luigi Basso of Italy.
Other international entries expected to fight it out for glory are Konstantin Sek of Russia and International Masters John Daniel Bryant of the United States and Dragos Ceres of Moldova.
Other local bets whose eyes are also on the prize are International Master Daniel Quizon and Michael Concio, Jr., IMs Kim Steven Yap, Chito Garma, Ricky de Guzman, Cris Ramayrat, Joel Pimentel and Angelo Young and FIDE Masters Alekhine Nouri, Mari Joseph Turqueza, David Elorta and Jeth Romy Morado.
The tournament, organized by MPCL top officials IM Hamed Nouri and International Arbiter Alex Dinoy and which coincides with the 44th birthday celebration of boxing legend and former Senator Manny Pacquiao, is also staking a cash pot of P800,000 in the side event with P300,000 going to the winner.
The meet is also being backed by President Bong Bong Marcos, Philippine Sports Commission chair Noli Eala and National Chess Federation of the Philippines chair and president Butch Pichay.
Apart from the champion, the top 20 finishers will also get a prize along with the best category winners for kiddies (Under-14), ladies, juniors (U20), seniors (60 and above) and top local General Santos Players.
Same with the challenger event plus category titlists as best local government unit (LGU), government agency, college, General Santos native and private company.