FIDE Master Mark Jay "MJ" Bacojo is one of the country's most promising chess players today. Chess experts believe that him claiming an International Master title is a matter of when, not if.

But it is not going to be easy.

Bacojo knows that he has to compete in as many FIDE-rated tournaments as he can and beat as many as higher rated chess players as he can to reach that goal.

"We all know how difficult it is to become an IM. But with the support of my family and sponsors like Dasmarias Mayor Jenny Barzaga, Congressman Pidi Barzaga and coach Roel Abelgas, I can reach my dream," said the 17-years-old Bacojo, who earned his first of three IM norms at the 18th IGB Dato' Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last September.

Starting on Saturday, October 28, Bacojo will aim for more rating points when he competes in the 3rd AQ Prime Fide Standard Chess Open at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Paraaque City.

Also playing in the 9-round, Swiss system tournament are International Masters Daniel Quizon, Rolando Nolte, Paulo Bersamina and Barlo Nadera; Woman International Master Marie Antoinette San Diego; FIDE Master Noel Dela Cruz and National Master Kim Kenneth Santos, among others.

AQ Prime Entertainment CEO Atty. Aldwin Alegre said the tournament will have a 90 minutes plus 30 seconds increment time control format.

The champion will pocket the P50,000 prize plus trophy, the runner-up will take home the P30,000 plus medal and the third place winner will get P20,000 plus medal. The fourth to 10th placers will win P15,000, P12,000, P10,000, P8,000, P7,000, P6,000 and P5,000, respectively.

After the opening day on Saturday, games will also be played on October 29 and November 2, 4 and 5.

Bacojo, meanwhile, is also set to compete in the FIDE World Youth Chess Championships on November 12-25 in Montesilvano, Italy as the grade 12 student from Dasmarias Integrated High School also needed to raise his current Elo rating points of 2335 to 2400 to meet the requirement for an International Master title.

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Bacojo to play in AQ Prime chess tournament - The Manila Times