Two Tournaments, One Busy Chess Month
OZAMIZ CITY - The announcement published by The Philippine Star on August 22 describes November as an especially active period for Philippine chess, with two international tournaments scheduled in Ozamiz and another in Quezon City. The 7th ASEAN Individual Championships will be held from November 2 to 10 at the Asenso Misamis Occidental Recreational and Aquamarine Park. The Open and Women’s champions will have opportunities to earn Grandmaster or Woman Grandmaster titles or norms, while second- and third-place finishers can pursue International Master or Woman International Master titles or norms. For Ozamiz, that means the city will host competition where international chess credentials are directly at stake.
A Chance for Filipino Players to Chase Titles
The second event, the Misamis Occidental Philippines International Championship, is scheduled for November 10 to 17 and is expected to feature strong Grandmasters from Asia. The tournament gives local and visiting players a setting where experience, rankings, and international opportunities meet across the board. Another August report noted that Cagayan de Oro’s Ruelle Canino is expected to compete in both events, with the ASEAN championship offering her another opportunity to pursue the Woman Grandmaster title after previously finishing second and earning a Woman International Master title. Her participation adds a recognizable Filipino name to an event that can attract attention from chess players beyond Mindanao.
Ozamiz’s Chess Calendar Is Getting Bigger
The two November tournaments also build on Ozamiz’s growing connection with competitive chess. The August report says the events are being supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, Philippine Sports Commission, ASEAN Chess Confederation, and WR Chess, with Misamis Occidental Governor Henry S. Oaminal hosting the two events. The announcement also notes that the province hosted the ASEAN Individual tournament the previous year, when Ruelle Canino and Mark Jay Bacojo earned international titles after finishing second and third in their respective divisions. The 2026 schedule therefore gives Ozamiz another opportunity to welcome high-level chess competition while providing Filipino players with meaningful chances to pursue international recognition.
