CEBU, Philippines - Maggi Dionson dominated the October edition of the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (CEPCA) monthly qualifying tournament last Sunday at Handuraw Pizza along Gorordo Avenue, this city.
Dionson, a Geodetic engineer who is also a real estate broker and examiner, actually figured in a three-way tie with Peterson Sia and Domy Pialan with similar 4.0 points at the end of the 5-round Swiss system competition but Dionson claimed the top spot by virtue of a higher tie-break output.
Dionson swept his first four assignments against CEPCA founder Boy Pestaño, Mark Cabarubias, Mike Banibane and Pilana before losing to Sia in his final round assignment.
Since Dionson and Sia have qualified already to the final, Pialan, an Electrical engineer who teaches this famous European boardgame through the internet, automatically becomes the October qualifiers for being the third placer. The next two spots were occupied by incoming CEPCA President Jerry Maratas and Randy Cabuncal with identical 3.5 points
Pialan, thus, joins Dionson and Sia together with lawyer Jong Melendez, NM Arnold Cadiz, Percival Fiel, Manuel Abucay, Jun Kidlat, Rey Flores, Freddie Casagan and Harisson Chua (Sept) to the grand finals set this December with no confirmed venue.
The games were supervised by CEPCA sports committee chairman Jun Olis and FIDE Arbiter Marvin Y. Ruelan. (FREEMAN)