FIDE Master David Elorta has sets his sight on the championship of the 3rd Gov. Henry Oaminal Open Chess Festival on Nov.4-5 at the Asenso Misamis Occidental Sports and Cultural Center, Capitol Complex in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental.Elorta will be among the top contenders in the tournament which is expected to draw the best wood pushers from all over the Philippines.A total of P428,000 in cash prizes will be at stake in the 9-round Swiss system tournament which has a time control of 15 minutes for the whole game with an increment of 3 seconds per move starting from move one.The chess festival is also line with the celebration of the 95th Provincial Anniversary of Asenso Misamis Occidental.

The open champion will receive P50,000 while the rest of the top 20 finishers will alo get cash prizes.

The tournament will also give cash prizes for the winners in the Under-13, Top U-17 , Top Misamis Occidental and the blitz chess champion.

Elorta, who plays for the Manila Indios Bravos in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP), pocketed the P10,000 purse and the gold medal for ruling the tournament which fielded over 145 woodpushers in the just concluded 72nd National Convention (NATCON) Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) Open Rapid Chess Tournament on October 19, 2024 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Seashell Lane, Pasay City.Elorta also finished third in the Las Pinas Chess Club Inc. Open Rapid Chess Championship held last October 20, 2024 at SM Southmall Las Pinas."I hope to do well in this event, the 3rd Governor Henry S. Oaminal Open Chess Festival set Nov.4-5," said Elorta who is schedue to play in the 3rd FIDE Master Angelito Camer FIDE Rated Open rapid chess turnament on Sunday, October 27, 2024 at the Pavilion Mall, Greenfield District in Mandaluyong City.Also competing in the tournament are GMs Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr., Darwin Laylo and Daniel Quizon, IMs Michael Concio Jr.,Rolando Nolte, Ronald Bancod, Joel Pimentel, Rico Mascarinas, Kim Steven Yap and Eric Labog Jr., FMs Roel Abelgas, Christian Gian Karlo Arca, Austin Jacob Literatus, Victor Lluch, Anthony Makinano and Alekhine Nouri, Sherwin Tiu, Atty. Jason Bandal and NM Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr.No less than Hall of Famer and Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre is expected to lead the ceremonial moves along with Gov. Oaminal, GMs Antonio, Laylo and Quizon.