MANILA, Philippines – A total of 180 young chess players battle for top honors in the Luzon leg of the 2013 National Age Group chess championship at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center in Malolos City Sunday.

Woodpushers from Malolos City, Meycauayan, Marilao, Sta. Maria, San Jose del Monte, Calumpit, Pulilan, Plaridel, Laguna and the National Capital Region joined the event, which will crown a champion in six different categories.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) committee chairman for grassroots development and promotions Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares of Bayan Muna and whiz kid Dennis Gutierrez III made the traditional ceremonial moves to formally open the tournament.

“This is part of the continuing training and exposure of young chess players who aspire to become national players someday,” said Colmenares.

The National Juniors Semi-finals will also get going on March 11-15, with the country’s best youth players striving for top honors.

The event will also be played in Malolos City.

In the Age-Group competition, aspirants will compete in the following categories: 20-under, 16-under, 14-under, 12-under, 10-under and 8-under, with boys and girls competing in different divisions.

The Juniors Semi-Finals, meanwhile, is an open event. The top ten winners in both men’s and women’s categories will join the six men and six women already seeded in the grand finals, scheduled for April 1-10 in Taguig City. -- By Marlon Bernardino