Holy Cross of Davao College chess team coach National Master Prospero Cruz has been invited to join the cash rich 5th La Union Open Chess Championships on March 3 to 9 at Diego Silang Hall of Provincial Hall in San Fernando City, La Union.

In a faxed letter, Tournament Director Joseph Dumuk wrote, "may we invite you (Cruz) to participate in the 5th edition of this presitigious tournament."

"Its an honor to be invited to join in this kind of tournament and definitely I will go there to participate", Cruz said.

The weeklong event, like in the past four years, showcases the country's leading chess players like Grandmaster Eugene Torre, Rogelio Antonio Jr, Nelson Mariano II and Mark Paragua.

A whooping P 80,000 cash prize awaits the top winner while the next three finishers will take home P 50,000, P 30,000 and P 20,000 respectively.

The fifth to eight placers will receive P 8,000 and the 9th to 15th will take home P 4,000 each.