Vitaliy Bernadskiy leads foreign GMs in Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Festival
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 20 Nov 2022
MANILA---RUSSIA'S Super Grandmaster Vitaliy Bernadskiy (Elo 2615) will lead foreign-based grandmasters (GM) in the Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Festival on December 13 to 17 at the Family Country Hotel in General Santos City.
It is the first time that foreign players will flock to the City of Gensan, dubbed as the Tuna Capital of the Philippines for this Fide-sanctioned international chess tournament.
The 28-year-old Bernadskiy won the Grandiscacchi Festival Primavera Cattolica tournament last March 16-20, 2022 in Cattolica, Italy.
Also seeing action next month are GM Gaburzyan Hovhannes (Elo 2586) of Armenia, GM Vitaly Sivuk (Elo 2568) of Ukraine and Tee Wee Zhun (Elo 1908 ) of Malaysia.
Filipino International Master Kim Steven Yap (Elo 2373) and National Master David Elorta (Elo 2265) lead the long list of top Pinoy woodpushers who will try to defend the Filipino pride.
Organized by Maharlika Pilipinas Chess League (MPCL) offers a total pot prizes $100,000 or P4.2 million will be up for grabs in the five-day event that is expected to draw participation from around 100 players in the Open division and 180 participants in the side events.
"For five days, General Santos will be the chess center of the world and we look forward to hosting the tournament of brilliant minds," said boxing icon and former senator Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, who will celebrate his 44th birthday on the final day of the tournament.
Pacquiao thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Philippine Sports Commission chairman Noli Eala and National Chess Federation of the Philippines chairman and president Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. for supporting the chessfest.
The open event will stake a cash pool of P3.4 million with P1.14 million going to the champion while giving out a total of P800,000 in the side event where the eventual titlist will be getting a cool P300,000.
Organizers IM Hamed Nouri and Alex Dinoy said this is the first of many tournaments planned by the MPCL. In fact, they are planning to stage at least three more international tournaments next year.
"We are truly convinced that the MPCL will become a truly global festival of chess," said Pacquiao.
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 (under-20), seniors (60-above) and top local players from General Santos City.-Marlon Bernardino-
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Weigh-In Results: Fundora and Conwell Ready for Golden Boy Fight Night in Oceanside
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Undefeated, rising Canadian prospect Eric Basran wins in Opening round to advance to quarterfinals of inaugural Riyadh Season/WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
Sat, 19 Apr 2025WEIGHTS FROM LONG BEACH
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Weights From Washington, PA
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Jerald Into Advances in WBC Boxing Grand Prix with Dominant Win Over Ahmad Jones
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Set for Homecoming Title Defense against Edwin De Los Santos at Norfolk's Scope Arena
Sat, 19 Apr 2025JAKE PAUL vs JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR / ZURDO RAMIREZ vs YUNIEL DORTICOS JUNE 28 in ANAHEIM
Sat, 19 Apr 2025June 8: Junto Nakatani-Ryosuke Nishida Bantamweight Unification Showdown Headlines Tokyo Super Card Streaming LIVE on ESPN+
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Thursday’s Action at the 2025 USA Boxing International Open Concludes
Sat, 19 Apr 2025H2O Sylve Returns to the Ring April 26th At Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta Amado Vargas Is Co-Main Live On BLK PRIME
Sat, 19 Apr 2025FM Arca bounces back, defeats IM Laohawirapap of Thailand in 6th round
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 19 Apr 2025SMITH VS. GERMAIN WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
Fri, 18 Apr 2025WBO #2 WBA #2 Mikiah Kreps on Weight in Seneca Niagara
Fri, 18 Apr 2025UFC® RETURNS TO PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY WITH BLOCKBUSER CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER
Fri, 18 Apr 2025AMATEUR HEAVYWEIGHT SENSATION LEO ATANG SIGNS PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING
Fri, 18 Apr 2025