Their craftsmen fashion ivory and buffalo horns into intricately carved chess pieces. He had singled out one promising player by the name of Datu Ālip of Ramaīn. It was in the Club de Ajedrez, that a match was arranged between Adolfo Gutierrez, then national champion, and Datu Datu Ālip of Ramaīn. The tradition of carving intricate chess pieces by craftsmen weakened as their ranks dwindled. Arrayed along with other artifacts like the gador, kutyapi, and other ensembles, the chess pieces, seen from their glass encasements, looked like mounted ghost warriors from a dimming past.

Source: Manila Times December 26, 2020 15:56 UTC