DAVAO CITY – A total of 366 entries from 12 countries are eager for early victories as the 19th ASEAN Age Group Chess Championship fired off on Tuesday at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, here.

“We are honored to have these participants here to join the tournament’s 19th edition here in Davao City. For the Philippine delegation, we have strong chances of winning more gold medals, but we will be having tough competition from entries from Vietnam and Malaysia,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman Prospero Pichay.

Pichay was joined by ASEAN Chess Confederation Founding Chairman Ignatius Leong, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey and the delegation heads from the participating countries.

The number of entries surpassed last year’s edition held in Kuantan, Malaysia, which had 230 participants from 10 countries.

Delegation heads present during the opening rites were Nguyen Minh Thang of Vietnam, Maung Maung Lwin of Myanmar, Osric Mooi of Singapore, Bunawan Bong of Indonesia and Peter Long of Malaysia.

Also present were chief local organizer and NCFP-XI director IA James Infiesto, GM Eugene Torre, NCFP Board of Director Ruel Canobas and Michael Aportadera of the Davao City Sports Development Division Office, representing Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Categories being played are the Under 8 years-old, Under 10 years-old, Under 12 years-old, Under 14 years-old, Under 16 years-old, Under 18 years-old and Under 20 years-old.