Diano rules E-Mall rapid chess

Eden Diano won the championship of the 4th Elizabeth Mall Sports Challenge Rapid Chess Tournament by the narrowest of margins the other day at the E-Mall Activity Center.

Diano finished with 6.5 points in a tie with FIDE Master Anthony Makinano, but took home the title by virtue of a higher tie-break output applying the Bucholz system. Diano had 31.5 tie-break points, edging out Makinano by just a half-point.

In the final round, Diano dominated Bonn Tibod, while Makikano, a candidate for International Master, subdued Nelman Lagutin.

Diano took home P2,500, while Makinano and Badilles received P1,500 and P1,000, respectively.

Odilo Badiles and Kim Steven Yap both finished with 6.0 points, but Badiles got the third place honors also courtesy of a superior tie-breaker. Badiles capped his campaign by beating Erwin Ababat, while Yap bested Rosendo Yamyamin.

Finishing at joint fifth to ninth Danny Yu, Joel Pacuribot, Bonn Tibod, Nelman Lagutin and Voltaire Sevillano, while Miguel Bernabe Jr. completed the top 10 cast. — Marigold P. Lebumfacil