ELEVEN chess masters from different parts of the Philippines will be seeing action on August 1-2, when the 5th DWP Mixed Masters Invitational Rapid Chess Knockout Tournament unfolds at the Residence Hotel in Iloilo City.

FIDE Master Sander Severino, rated 2271, will be on hand to defend the title he won last year, but strong opposition will be expected from the strong cast of the 5th DWP tourney. Severino has a 2344 FIDE rating.

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The contenders include International Master Kim Steven Yap of Cebu City who totes a hefty 2416 FIDE rating, but a mere 2188 National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) rating.

Also set to play are (all ratings NCFP) National Masters Rodrigo Atotubo (2292) who was last year’s runner up, Hamed Nouri (2244), Alfred Acaling (2100), Efren Bagamasbad (2161), Cesar Mariano (2260), Edwin Tan (2162), Francis Jocson (2120), Wilfredo Neri (2007) and Rolando Andador (2158).

Tournament organizer Nonoy Briones said the cash prizes at stake in the event are P12,000 and a champion’s trophy for the winner; P8,000 for the second placer; P5,000 for the third placer and P2,500 for the fourth placer. Competing masters are likewise given varying appearance fees depending on their titles.

Briones also said that losing quarterfinalists will get P1,000 apiece; Round of 16 losers pocket P500 apiece; Round of 32 losers take home P200 each, and opening round losers receive P100 in consolation prize.

The competition is an annual event that started in 2005 by Briones and supported by a group of Filipino and American employees of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in California.

Briones identified some of the supporters as Jess Asiain, George Kiaman, Rene Baluyot, Don Gerwien, Dennis Basilio, Phil Abiog, Rudy Salon, Ossie Cuevas, Hector Domingo, Boy Domingo, Cleo Rojas and Bill Nees.

After the rapid tournament, the 4th DWP Blitz knockout competition will be played immediately by some twenty invited players at the Freedom Grandstand Chess Center.