Ateneo tackles La Salle in 2-day chess fundraiser

Ateneo and La Salle bring their fabled rivalry online when they clash in a chess match for a cause this weekend.

International Master Jem Garcia will head the Blue Eagles while Grandmaster John Paul Gomez will lead the Green Archers in the 12-player each side event intended to raise funds for training tournaments and the Munting Agila program of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

Completing the Ateneo roster are Fide Master Peter Leung, National Master Cris Aspiras, Arena Grandmaster Gavin Lloyd Ong, Rey Reyes, Leonard Reyes, Renzo Marquez, Jolo Lat, Ricki Yao, Keefe Tan, Joey Rodriguez and Dan Navarro, who replaced Senator Kiko Pimentel.

Others in the La Salle side are IM Oliver Dimakiling, NM Randy Segarra, AGM Glenn Lemen, Ted Castro, Tyrone Guya, Nonoy Rafael, Paolo Bautista, Anjo Nuestro, Avelino Tolentino, Jefferson Chua and Woman Fide Master Cherry Ann Mejia, the lone female participant.

To be played under the Scheveningen system, the match will be for 12 rounds with the first half to be held Saturday and the second half on Sunday starting at 8 pm

Games will be for 10 minutes each with no increment. They will be broadcasted live via https://www.facebook.com/groups/ONCFP.

Apart from the game results, there will also be a contest in the amount to be raised.

For the Ateneo side, donations can be coursed through Rickie A. Yao (Metrobank 025-3-025-07349-6) and GCash through Gavin Lloyd C. Ong (0917-787755).

The Green Archers are slight favorites owing to the presence of many time Olympian Gomez and national team members Dimakiling and Mejia. 

– Roy Luarca, Ariel Ian Clarito/Rappler.com