CENTERMALL NON-MASTER CHESS TOURNEY ON

February 18, 2023 Metro BLISTT

Gone for nearly two years, the biggest chess competition for non-masters is slowly getting its stride back with the staging of its 49th edition. The Baguio Centermall Non-Master Chess Tournament will be staged on March 3 and 4, a Friday and Saturday, from its original weekend schedule, said
mall manager Johan Teope Thursday. With nearly 200 players the last time, the tournament held
at least four times a year, is expected to break the number as games had been on hold for nearly two years and players, even students, are eager to go back at the green and white board.

Moreover, the event is now sanctioned by the Philippine Chess Federation, said Teope. The tournament returned with a bang in December 22 and 23 last year, right before Christmas with Romy Fagon topping the event. The second seed Fagon (Elo 2089) finished with six wins and drawing one for a 6.5 total to edge 20th seed Daryl Penaflorida, who came out with six wins and lone defeat for six points.

Five players were tied with 5.5 points but top seed Apolloe Agapay (Elo 2141) finished third through countback. He led with 33 tiebreak points and edge 54th seed Joshua Kharl Marcena, who had 32 tiebreak points. Third seed Edgar Tullao (Elo 2078) came in fourth with 29.5 tiebreak points ahead of 74th seed Gio Troy Ventura (28.5 tiebreak points) and Far Eastern University women’s chess mainstay Bea Mendoza towing them with 27.5 tiebreak points.

All finished with five wins, a single defeat and a lone draw. Eighth seed Jonathan Bayron lead five other players with five points (4-2-1 win-loss-draw). Finishign the top 10 are Fidel Labuanan and Fernando Legazpi. Former top child player Marvin Limocon, Lordwin Espiritu and sometime arbiter Edgar Castro finished with five points also but outside the top 10. Castro was also the top senior. Other special awardees are: Ventura as top junior, Christine Faith Tabungar as top lady player, while Jeanne Marie Arcinue was the top kiddie player and eight year old Sean Caleb Gomez was the top nine under player.

Pigeon Lobien/ABN