P45-million Campomanes Memorial tourneys set

P45-million Campomanes Memorial tourneys set
June 14, 2010, 6:08pm

The World Chess Federation (FIDE), led by its president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov of Russia, has agreed to shell out a prize fund of $1million (roughly P45 million) to bankroll 10 chess tournaments that will be held to honor the late and former FIDE head Florencio Campomanes.

The tourney, which will be known as the Florencio Campomanes Memorial Cup, will run for over 10 years in the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member-nations with each staging staking $100,000 cash prize.

This was personally announced by Ilyumzhinov during the annual meeting of the (ASEAN) Chess Confederation hosted by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero Pichay at the Subic Bay Freeport late last week.

The 10-part tournament will formally kick off in Manila on August 11-19 possibly at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

Pichay and Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan Bin Kalifah Al Nahyan lauded Ilyumzhinov for sponsoring the tournament held in honor of Campomanes who passed away last month at the age of 83.

Campomanes served as FIDE president from 1982 to 1995.

“The whole Asian region, especially the Filipinos, are very thankful for Ilyumzhinov for sponsoring these memorial tournaments in honor of Campomanes,” said Pichay during the meeting also attended by FIDE general secretary Ignatius Leung of Singapore and representatives of the 10 ASEAN member-countries.

For his part, NCFP secretary-general and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Tolentino said the memorial tournaments will give the players the opportunity to honor Campomanes through their participation.

At stake in the tournament divided into three categories are cash prizes amounting to $70,000 in the Open division, $20,000 in the women’s category and $10,000 in the challenge section.

The champion in the Open category will bring home the lion’s prize of $10,000.

The winners in the women’s division and challenge section will receive $ 5,000 and $3,000, respectively.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph