Pascua defends crown in Pangasinan chessfest

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines –International Master Haridas Pascua scored six points then nipped two others in the tiebreak to rule the fourth Pangasinan Chess Championship at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center here over the weekend. 

Prince Mark Aquino of San Nicolas town and Gerard Lalas (Mapandan) also wound up with six points after the seven-round tournament but settled for second and third, respectively, after the tiebreak.

The 21-year-old Pascua, who hails from Mangatarem town, thus pocketed the top P7,000 purse and kept the title he won last  year.

Fidel Labuanan (Laoac) and Benjie Macoy (San Carlos City) placed fourth and fifth, respectively, followed by Emmanuel Lomibao (Mapandan), Edgar Tullao (Tayug), Dick Gicain (Lingayen), Noy Jabilles (Calasiao), Josefino Cachin (Urdaneta City), Mark Donald Castillo (Mangaldan), Winnifred Boquiren (Malasiqui), Isagani Fernandez (Dagupan City), Verth Alora (Anda) and Woman FIDE Master Samantha Glo Revita (Rosales) in that order.

Boquiren emerged as the top senior player while Revita took the top lady plum.

Meanwhile, Romy Fagon of Urdaneta City dominated the junior section (18-years-old-and-below), scoring six wins and a draw to claim the top P5,000 prize. Benjamin Cortez (Calasiao) placed second followed by Fernando Mendoza (Dagupan City), Allan Frianeza (Dagupan City), Ma. Kathrine Grace Almodal (Villasis), Mark Franklin Ramos (San Fabian), Aaron Caleb Cabael (Urdaneta City), Ralph Alex Velasco (San Carlos City), Franklin Gutierrez (San Carlos City) and Rhodora Marto (San Manuel).

John Mark Yanes of Lingayen town stamped his class in the kiddies category (12-years-old-and-below), scoring 6.5 points to nail the crown in the tournament organized by the provincial government of Pangasinan and the Pangasinan Chess League (PCL) as part of the annual Pangasinan chess festival.

Jose Ricardo De Guzman (Alaminos City) and Joshua Balona (Sta. Barbara) placed second and third, respectively.