[b]Cebu City, Philippines.[/b] The quest to earn the title of “World’s Largest Chess Tournament” is underway as Cebu City Sports Commission spearheads the most ambitious chess program in Philippine chess history – the Cebu City Open Chess Tournament.

The Cebu City Government, Cebu City Sports Commission, Philippine Sports Commission and the Department of Education Region VII are coordinating their resources to hold the largest chess (board game) tournament from October to December 2011 with participants from city schools and from other groups and individuals converging in the Grand Finals in one venue - at the Cebu City Sports Center, Philippines.

Generous sponsors such as Julie’s Bakeshop, Bioderm, International Pharmaceuticals Inc., Rose Pharmacy, Virginia Foods Inc. and the University of Cebu have thrown their support to make this noble program successful.

This massive program involves a targeted 30,000 chess players, the main bulk of which are elementary and secondary students, with winners pitted against winners in a series of tournaments until a grand champion emerges.

The program will culminate in a Guinness World Record Attempt to break current record holder for largest chess (board game) tournament Krasnoyarsk, Russia with 1,214 participants.

[b]Partnership with Department of Education[/b]

In a classic partnership with Department of Education Region VII Cebu City Division, this chess program involves mass instructions on chess by volunteer trainers and classroom teachers for elementary and high school students in public and private schools in Cebu City.

Instructions on how to play chess and how to conduct chess tournaments began early August this year with selected school teachers and school coordinators who in turn trained the students in the classrooms, section by section.

Interesting to note that since the class chess instructions were done simultaneously in the different schools, there was an enormous chess sets shortage. So much so that, improvised chess sets were developed and used, utilizing tarpaulin boards and “chess chips” – rubbers stoppers with stickers to signify chess pieces.

During the actual classroom chess tournaments, however, standard chess pieces and boards were used by all players. Some schools held tournaments in their multi-purpose hall or covered courts instead of at their classrooms for easy monitoring.

School-wide tournaments started in Don Sergio, Guadalupe and Labangon Bliss Elementary Schools with 2,000 pupils last October 17. The Ramon Duterte High School held its classroom tourney last October 21.

Cebu City Sports Commission Chairman Edward Hayco said, “The classroom and school-wide tournaments will continue until the grand finals. We target at least 20, 000 pupils to learn the game of chess and to participate in the events.”

Among the schools that have tournaments ongoing are Pardo Elementary School, Mambaling Elementary School, Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. Memorial Night High School, Guadalupe Elementary School, Labangon Bliss Elementary School and the Don Vicente Rama Elementary School. Zapatera Elementary School and City Central School.

School wide tournaments are expected to be done at anytime convenient to the schools during the month of November. Teachers are given the Official Registration List and Tournament Record Forms.

Schools that have had their classroom tourneys are to submit a copy of the registration list and tournament record form (TRF) to the office of the Cebu City Sports Commission not later than November 10, 2011.

The top 4 players in the class section tournament will represent the class section in the school-wide competition. The top 8 players in the school-wide competition will represent the school in the Grand Finals.

[b]Other groups and individuals can join![/b]

The Cebu City Open Chess Tournament and Guinness World Record attempt for “World’s Largest Chess (Board Game) Tournament” is open to Filipinos and non-Filipino citizens, titled and non-titled players, students or professionals and out of school youths.

Registration is free to all players with forms available at the Cebu City Sports Center or may be requested by email. A participant may represent a club, university or college, city or municipality and other public or private entities. Registration period is from October 3 to November 30, 2011.

At the Grand Finals, all players who have registered individually or in groups including those coming from school eliminations shall play in one single group to vie for the title of Grand Champion.

Tentative Dates and Venue of the Grand Finals will be on December 10 - 11, 2011 at the Cebu City Sports Center Gym.

Certificates of Participation will be given to all participants while medals and other prizes will be
awarded to all top performers. For inquiries, contact Cebu City Sports Commission, Cebu City Sports Center, RR Landon Extension, Cebu City at telephone number 255-6985/ 0923-116-4422 or Roger Abella @ 0910-2686-890 & Felix Poloyapoy @ 0923-576-5077.

Chairman Hayco added, “The Guinness World Record Attempt is just ‘icing on the cake’ as it will honour the many volunteers and participants who worked hard to make this event successful. The record will also promote sports in Cebu City, particularly board games like chess, to divert the youth from drug abuse and petty crimes and promote Cebu City as a sports hub.”