Where to play

By Frank 'boy" Pestaño
Chessmoso

IF you are a tourist or one who ould like to play serious and competitive chess, there are five places to go.

First is the Bibo Chess Club located along Jakosalem St., in front of the Veco office. Here most of the strong players in Cebu congregate. Club regulars are Dodong Santos, Boy Abugho, Bob Tojong, Marvin Ruelan and the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association’s (Cepca) strongest player, Dante Arguelles. Rate is P10 per hour and there is a cafeteria nearby.

If you prefer an atmosphere with class and excellent surroundings, go to SM City Cebu’s second floor where Deep Blue Woodpushers Café is located. It is the favorite place of chessplaying businessmen, executives and government employees. Here, one can partake of a good merienda (puto/sekwate, manga/torta), play chess and watch the girls go by. Players seen here are Kiting Moro, Maggi Dionson, former Fide president Florencio Campomanes and Cepca members Jojo Paredes, Dongdong Almario, and the mighty Bombi Aznar and his son Andrew. The place is owned by the late Payling Alegado, a Cepca member and rate is P25/hour.

If you want to play serious games with no distractions, peaceful surroundings and two beautiful ladies, Mylene and Che-che, go to 28 Visitacion St., right across the Cebu Community Hospital. This place is primarily a study center for students (the place is aptly called Tun-anan Study and Chess Center) and is air-conditioned. The proprietor is Antonio “Nicnic” Climaco, one of the founders of Cepca. Nicnic is an excellent host and will gladly oblige you to a game or two. Club regulars here are Cepca members Pastor Henry Cariat and Frank Najaro. This is the only chess club where an Internet connection is available. The rate is P10/hour over the board and P20 for Internet use. Food is student price.

However, the hottest chess action in the city is the Colonnade Chess Center along Colon St., beside Oriente Theatre. The center is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. There is never a dull moment and most tables are occupied. Young and old, masters and experts, beginners, professionals and students, even women, play here. This is also the place where most members of Cepca play like Gerry Tomakin, Art Ynclino, Tony Cornejo, Fabio Abucejo, Fred Espinosa and more. Other regulars here are Aller Somosot, Bonjoe Lanorias, Abner Solis.

The center is alternately managed by Joeboy Villarante and Lito Pielago, and open seven days a week. The place is owned by CEPCA original Danny Pestaño. The rate is P14/hour and the whole place is air-conditioned. If you feel tired, you can have a massage with blind masseurs or if you wish to gamble a little, play bingo.

The chess club in Mactan is located along Punta Rizal St. beside City Appliance. Club founder is Cepca original member Jun Olis and current president of the chess club is Ariel Potot. The club is funded by the Lapu-lapu Sports Commission thru the initiative of Marvin Imbong. Playing time is free.

Chess Club regulars are Arnel Abellana, Totong Sapa, Boy Dagat, Romeo Resquera, Ramsy Pedrosa, Jojo Moralla, Kristopher Querubin.

Here is a little caution though. One of the common denominators of chess clubs here and elsewhere in the world are the hustlers, or in chess parlance the buayas. They are commonly of national master caliber, have good public relations and manners, speak softly and slowly but surely empty your wallet.

They will let you win a few games, give odds, teach you tricks on the opening and “swindle” techniques in the endgame. There is one factor if you play them though: They make you a better chess player.

CHESS TRIVIA. The first one to answer the following question will receive a tournament-size chess set from Atty. Alex Tolentino of the Cepca. Claim your prize at the Big Apple store in Mabolo beside Kahayag Restaurant.

Who am I? I won an international tournament in Odessa USSR in 1976 and became a grandmaster. It was only the second time that a foreigner won an international event in the USSR. The only other foreigner who won was the Cuban former world champion Raul Capablanca.

(The writer is the founding president of the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association)