LINGAYEN, Pangasinan --   Hometown   bet   Dennis Gutierrez III  hurdled his  opening-day assignment  to lead the march of the  favorites at the   start of the 2011  Pangasinan National  age-group  chess  championships  at the fully   air-conditioned Narciso Ramos  Sports and Civic Complex here Saturday.

Gutierrez  outclassed   Gideon Aquino Jr. to take  the headstart  in the  8 years old and under category   in  this   prestigious, five-day competition  organized  by the  Philippine  Academy for Chess  Excellence   (PACE), headed  by  GM   Jayson  Gonzales, in  cooperation  with  the  National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and the  Pangasinan  provincial  government.

In  other  early results,  Khulene Lord dela Cruz   humbled  Dan Angelo Ablang, Adrian   Gerard Jose Lomibao defeated Matthew Steven Aquino, John Ruiz  Bravo toppled  Justin Kim Lopez, Danzel Jude Ubando nipped  Lordian Mickel Dumlao Cuison  and  Adrian de Luna crushed Jamier Lius Uy.

Gov. Amado T. Espino of Pangasinan and GM Wesley So made  the  ceremonial moves during  the   colorful opening ceremony.

NCFP president/chairman   Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., delivered the  inspirational remarks during the ceremony.

Pichay also personally thanked   Gov. Espino and  Vice Governor  Jose Ferdinand  Calimlim Jr. for  their all-out support to chess in the province.

Former congressman  Generoso Tulagan also witnessed  the colorful   rites.

Also  present during the ceremony  were Gonzales, who is also the  NCFP  director for grassroot  developments; and  Juan Sison, president of   the host  Pangasinan Chess Federation.

The  five-day  competition serves as qualifying tournament  for the  coming  Asian Youth Championships  in  Subic  on May 14-22.

Cash  prizes  and medals are also  at stake in  the  competition divided into  six  age  categories in  both the boys and girls  divisions.

The  cash prizes:

Boys 18  years  old  and  under --  P10,000  (champion), P7,000 (runner-up),  P5,000 (third), P3,000 (fourth)   and P2,000 (fifth), P500 (sixth)  and P300 (seventh  to 10th).

Girls 18 under  -- P7,000, P5,00, P4,000,  P2,500, P1,500,  P500 and P300.

Boys  and Girls  16 under --  same as  18 under.

Boys 14 under -- P7,000, P5,000, P3,000, P2,000, P1,000, P500, P300.

Girls 14 under – P5,000, P3,000, P2,000, P1,5000, P1,000, P500, P300.