Misamis Occidental hosts major chessfest

MISAMIS ORIENTAL — Spotlight will be on Misamis Occidental as it hosts the 7th ASEAN+ Individual Chess Championships and the Misamis Occidental International Open — the largest international chess festival ever to be held in Mindanao.

Under the leadership of Governor Henry Oaminal, the provincial government is boosting its Asenso Misamis development agenda through sports tourism, positioning the province as a premier destination for regional and international sporting competitions.

Tthe twin tournaments will unfold at the Asenso Misamis Occidental Resort and Aquamarine Park in Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental — the same venue that also hosted the 6th ASEAN+ Individual Chess Championships in 2025.

The 7th ASEAN+ Individual Chess Championships runs from 2 to 10 November followed by the Misamis Occidental International Open from 10 to 17 November with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and the ASEAN Chess Confederation serving as main partners.

Tipped to see action are top Filipino players, including IM Jem Garcia, IM Pau Bersamina and IM Michael Concio Jr., who will all vie for Grandmaster norms, while WIM Ruelle Canino leads the women’s division in her pursuit of the Woman Grandmaster title.