Organizers of the upcoming 1st Cebu Muslim-Christian Friendship Open Chess Tournament pose for a photo-op after yesterday’s press launching of the event set for this weekend at the AMA’s Halal Fast Foods inside the Colonade Mall. (CDN PHOTO/GLENDALE G. ROSAL)
THE Association of Cebu Muslim Entrepreneurs and Professionals Inc. (ACMEP) will hold its first chess tournament dubbed as “Cebu Muslim-Christian Friendship Open Chess Tournament” this weekend at the Colonnade Mall in downtown, Cebu City.
The event is the group’s way of extending support to the Cebuano chess community and to the Sinulog Festival. ACMEP is also trying to convey the message that Cebuanos, regardless of their religion, can coexist peacefully and progressively.
Veteran chess arbiter Marvin Ruelan is helping the group organize the event.
“Considering that the Sinulog Festival is coming in two weeks, we thought of something that we can share to our fellow Cebuanos and we decided to hold this chess tournament,” said ACMEP President Datu Abubacar S. Gunang.
Gunang and ACMEP Secretary and Chairman for Sports Abdulazis Macalandong as well as officers and Board of Directors (BOD) officially launched the event yesterday at the AMA’s Halal Fast Food in Colonnade Mall.
“We want to show everyone here in the country that Muslims and Christians in Cebu have no conflict. We coexist peacefully. The main objective of this tournament is to foster brotherhood and peaceful coexistence of Muslims and non-Muslims. We have to unite as Cebuanos. We are Cebuanos also, we are Cebuanos by choice and proudly reside here in Cebu,” added Gunang.
The group is also hoping that the tournament will encourage Muslims in Cebu to engage in sports especially chess which is key to developing one’s intellectual capacity.
ACMEP was established in 2012. It aims to unite Muslim businessmen and promote civic-oriented programs and service to God.
Aside from chess, it is also active in basketball and bowling.
The seven-round Swiss system tournament offers P8,000 to the champion plus a plaque while the second to fourth-placers will receive P4,000, P2,000 and P1,000, respectively, and a plaque. The fifth to 10th-placers will receive P250 while the top three Muslim players will receive P500 each. The top three kiddies and ladies participants will get P1,000, P600 and P400 each.
Playing time for each round is 25 minutes with five second increments.
Gunang added that if the tournament is successful, they will make it an annual event. They are also planning to form their own chess club.
Registration fee is P250 for the Open division and P100 for the kiddies and ladies and may be paid on the day of the tournament which will start at 1 p.m. at the second level of the Colonnade Mall.