Three International Chess Tournaments Set to Rock the Philippines in November

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Philippine chess is set for one of its most active months in recent memory, with three international tournaments scheduled across Ozamiz and Quezon City in November. Titles, FIDE norms, and prize purses worth thousands of dollars are all on the line.

The events have drawn the backing of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, the Philippine Sports Commission, the ASEAN Chess Confederation, and WR Chess. Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry S. Oaminal is personally hosting the two Ozamiz legs.

Filipino chess players will have opportunities to pursue international titles and norms during the November tournaments.

Ozamiz Opens the Action

The 7th ASEAN Individual Championships kicks off the November calendar, running from Nov. 2 to 10 at the Asenso Misamis Occidental Recreational and Aquamarine Park. Champions in both the Open and Women’s categories stand to earn Grandmaster or Woman Grandmaster titles or norms, while second and third placers are in line for International Master or Woman International Master titles or norms.

The champion’s purse for the opening event is set at $3,000, or approximately P185,000. The tournament carries added weight given what the same venue delivered last year, when Ruelle Canino and Mark Jay Bacojo sealed a WIM and IM title respectively after finishing second and third in their divisions.

Next up is the Misamis Occidental Philippines International Championship, running from Nov. 10 to 17 at the same AMORAP venue. Super Grandmasters from across the ASEAN region and Asia are expected to compete, with the winner taking home $7,000 — roughly P432,000 — the largest prize purse of the three events.

Quezon City Closes November

The AQ Prime International Open Championship brings the month to a close, running from Nov. 17 to 26 at the MICE Center in Quezon City. A champion’s prize of $5,000, or approximately P308,000, awaits the winner of the final leg.

NCFP secretary-general and CEO GM Jayson Gonzales captured the significance of the month ahead. “It will be one month of pure chess where our very own players will have a chance to become a GM, an IM or a WGM or a WIM or norms with FIDE rating points,” he said.

For Philippine chess, the three-tournament November slate is a landmark occasion — one built to showcase Filipino talent and formally elevate it on the international stage.