By Marlon Bernardino, www.abs-cbnnews.com

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. will sponsor the coming “The Battle of the Grandmasters” chess championship for the second straight year.

The tournament will be held from March 23 to 30 at the City State Tower Hotel in Ermita, Manila.

PPPI President and CEO Dennis Uy and brand and marketing manager Jay Delloso met with National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay to assure their support for the event.

“We’re very happy to welcome Phoenix Petroleum back as our major sponsor,” said Pichay.

Pichay lauded Phoenix Petroleum for its continued support for chess development in the country.

At stake in the 10-day competition are trophies and cash prizes amounting to P660,000.

Two-time champion GM Wesley So (ELO 2656) heads the list of participants in the event, which offers P200,000 to the champion.

Expecting to figure prominently in the tournament are So’s fellow World Cup participants GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. (ELO 2572) and GM Darwin Laylo (ELO 2527).

Other Pinoy casts are GMs Eugene Torre (ELO 2506), Mark Paragua (2497) and Jayson Gonzales (2441), IMs Ronald Dableo (2464), Richard Bitoon (2458), Oliver Dimakiling (2441) and Rolando Nolte (2420), FM Haridas Pascua (2358) and NM Alcon John Datu (2220).

The participants n the women’s division are Woman International Master (WIM) Beverly Mendoza, Woman Fide Masters (WFMs) Chardine Cheradee Camacho, Shercila Cua and Catherine Perena, Cherry Ann Mejia, Women National Masters (WNMs) Loreshyl Cuizon, Daisy Rivera, Christy Lamiel Bernales, Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Jedara Docena, Rulp Ylem Jose and Mikee Charlene Suede.

For details, call NCFP events director Willie Abalos at cell 0929-2266210.