The University of the Cordilleras will host a two-day 14 round chess tournament this weekend.
Free of registration but still cash prizes at stake, the event on Lichess, a chess program cum venue online, expects players 18 years and younger from all over the region.
“We want our players in the Region to be active and productive despite of this Coronavirus pandemic,” said Danilo Cong-o, head of UC’s Sports Division Office.
The UC Jaguars Online Chess Tournament, Cong-o said, will be a venue not only for the youngsters to be active and productive but also come out with activities that will help athletes even combat depression.
Cong-o told RNG Luzon: “With our situation, I think it’s now a necessity to come up with activities like this to help our athletes combat depression.”
UC even provided for the cash incentives for the winners, specifically the Top 10, Cong-o said, even the tournament will be open for free.
“(I) Am thankful to UC for allowing us (to stage the event) with the bonus cash incentives although small but then the registration is free,” he explained.
He added: “but of course the tournament is not about the monetary prize, we just want to give an avenue for our players to relax and continue their passion for their beloved sports.”
Since March last year, all sporting events had been cancelled and their athletes grounded.
The college players were unable to continue with the Baguio Benguet Educational Athletic League last year and then they were supposed to join the national finals of the Private Schools Athletic Association in Tugegarao late March last year after staging eliminations in athletics with rival University of Baguio, which was scrapped.
The elementary and high school students were already ready for the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association meet which Baguio was supposed to host also in March last year, when the city was declared under enhanced community quarantine and all schools were shuttered as well as all playing venues.
The Palaraong Pambansa was also cancelled last year.
This year the BBEAL, the Palarong Panlungsod, CARAA, PRISAA and Palarong Pambansa have all been cancelled.