Young woodpushers reign

CEBU, Philippines - Aspiring chess prodigies, Gerold Mata, Elaila Mae Monsalud and Jethro Benedict Pacifico bagged titles in their respective categories in the two-day Alfonso Dondon Sr. Memorial Chess Tournament at the Madridejos Municipal Ground in Bantayan Island.

Mata, a former collegiate varsity player, secured the open category title tallying a total of 6.5 points.

A spectacular game happened in the earlier matches when Mata fought against his former elementary chess student and now his chess rival, Shaira Mae Monsalud in the third round of the first day of the competition that ended in a draw.

Mata then swept all the remaining four rounds on the next day while the 15-year-old Monsalud failed to play her best and only won two of the remaining games.

Mata pocketed P3,500 being the champion, while Aldrin Bacolod finished second place and Regelito Hortelano took the third place.

Meanwhile, Monsalud’s older sister, Elaila Mae, grabbed the high school division title and went home with the Best Female Player award.

Monsalud proved that women do excel in this sport as her runners-up were all males — Juvy Caratao and Jason Rey Sarabia, who finished at second and third places, respectively.

Benedicto, on the other hand, dominated the elementary class while Joshua Bacolod got the second place while Ellah Mae Gervacio placed third and was awarded as the Youngest Player of the Tournament.

The two-day tournament followed the Seven-Round Swiss System tournament and was organized by Bantayan District Jail led by Officer In-Charge Insp. Manuel de la Peña and Jail Officer II Edwin Monsalud and was supported by Alfonso Dondon Sr. and LA Madridejos USA-International Group.  — (FREEMAN)