Belano, Yap dominate Cebu Checkmate 2026

CEBU, Philippines —  John Lester Belano of Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School and Anton Matteo Yap

from the Singapore School of Cebu were crowned champions in the highly successful Checkmate Cebu 2026 chess tournament

last Saturday, May 16, at Robinsons Galleria Cebu.

Belano reigned supreme in the juniors division (20 Under) while Yap secured the unrated 16 Under crown of the one-day tilt organized by International Master Kim Steven Yap of the Cebu School of Chess in partnership with the Singapore School of Cebu.

Belano actually figured in a three-way tie with Zephyrr Kyle Abalo and Reduard Contaoi of Luray II National High School in Toledo City with identical 7.0 points but Belano lifted the first-place trophy that went with a P12,000 cash prize courtesy of a superior tiebreaker.

Abalo pocketed P8,000 for finishing second while Contaoi got P6,000 for winding up third.

Edelyn Vosotros of the University of Cebu and Triton Blue Ares Garcia of Cebu Sacred Heart College Inc. occupied the fourth and fifth spots with 6.5 points each.

Rounding out the Top 10 with 6.0 points apiece were Rey Gabriel Dalapo, John Dave Lavandero, Sean Kenneth Cogonon, Maria Kristine Lavandero, and Tyler Francisco.

In the 16 Under, Yap clinched the coveted title with 5.5 points. He received P5,000 for his efforts.

Sven Lucas Poster of Academia De Nuestra Señora-Ronda, Aresmith Pasaol of Carmen Elementary School and Jhon Garvey Fuertes all scored 5.0 points but Poster took the second spot by virtue of higher tiebreaker.

Poster claimed P4,000 while Pasaol went home P3,000 richer as third followed by Fuertes.

Completing the Top 10 were Zane Anthon Francisco, Xyril Angelo Ocampo, Ding Yu Wang, Miles Allen Cadavero, Dominic Lucas Olegario, and Frech Montalban.

Meanwhile, the University of Cebu and Singapore School of Cebu came out as the top performing schools while the best players in their respective categories were Apple Rubin and Thea Bernice Otto (female), Job Elohim Bongaitan and Arthur Rafael Go (U8), Heinrich Golpeo and Kyle Mason Co (U10), John Patrick Rabor and Derrick Gabe Leones (U12), 

Aarav Kale (U14), Glenn Earl Rojo (U16), and Gyeol Han (SSC).

The event was made possible through the support of Boojie Lim of Chess Infinitum, John Signe of Toledo-Xignex Trojans,Kelly Uy of Progress Marketing, Engr. Jerry Maratas of the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (CEPCA), Engr. Roy de la Cruz of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), Dr. Edwin Cablao, Hector Ginete, and Jojo Legaspi.