THE Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (Cepca) united Cebu’s chess community yesterday to pay tribute to the late Francisco “Boy” Pestaño in the Cepca 27th anniversary chess open at the Robinson’s Galleria Cebu.
To remember and recognize Pestaño’s valuable contribution to the local chess community, Cepca named the 27th anniversary open chess tournament after him which is the “Boy ‘Chessmoso’ Pestaño Open Chess Tournament.”
Pestaño was also Cepca’s first president. He passed away last May.
Cepca president Eng. Jerry Maratas and Cepca honorary member and Cebu City vice mayor Edgardo Labella led yesterday’s opening ceremonies with the 120 wood pushers joining the two-day tournament which has more than P60,000 in cash prizes.
“It is overwhelming to see the support of our local chess players because there are a lot who signed up to honor Boy Pestaño even though there are other tournaments going on right now in Cebu,” said Maratas.
Maratas told Cebu Daily News that they are planning to hold a separate tournament on Pestaño’s birthday and to permanently name Cepca’s annual anniversary tournament to the late Pestaño.
“We attracted around 120 participants and that means Cebuanos are really chess lovers. This year is special for us because we want to honor Boy that’s why we named the tournament after him. We are also planning to hold a separate tournament on his birthday or name the annual anniversary tournament after him but it’s yet to be discussed with Cepca members and officers,” added Maratas.
The champion of the nine-round Swiss system event will receive P10,000 plus a trophy while the second to fifth placers will get P7,000, P5,000, P3,000 and P2,000, respectively.
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