CEBU, Philippines - The Eden Diano-skippered Mandaue JCC fought to a 2-2 draw with Mandaue-Labogon in the final round but that was all it needed to clinch the championship of the 1st Tuburan Inter Municipalities and Cities Chess Team Tournament over the weekend at the Cebu Technological University (CTU)–Tuburan Campus Activity Center.
Diano and his comrades Rommel Ganzon, Diego Claro and Harold Diano finished the 5-round Swiss system competition with 8.0 points, enough for them to take home the grand prize of P30,000.
Toledo City, host Tuburan-A and Mandaue Labogon figured in a three-way logjam with 7.0 points each, but Toledo, manned by Glen Pardillo, Bonn Tibod, Christopher Tubalado, and Jerome Cabantan, snared the second place honors courtesy of a superior tiebreak output.
Tuburan-A powered by Voltaire Sevillano, Carlos Moreno III, Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano, and Esio Gelito wound up third followed by Mandaue Labogon composed of Ramsey Pedrosa, Leonardo Alidani, Reynaldo Flores, and Bhel Ortiz.
Toledo pocketed P20,000, while Tuburan A and Mandaue-Labogon got P10,000 and P6,000, respectively.
Lapu-Lapu City comprised of Aldwin Daculan, Allan Pason, Kraig Quinain, and Mark Cimafranca placed fifth, while Argao LGU manned by Michael Pagaran, Yves Fiel, Hector Villamora and Percival Fiel rounded up the top six finishers.
The top individual performers also received additional cash incentives namely Merbel Roque of Dalaguete for Board 1, Allan Pason of Lapu-Lapu City and Rommel Ganzon of Mandaue JCC for Biard 2, Kyle Sevillano of Tuburan-A for Board 3, and Esio Gelito of Tuburan-A and Harold Diano of Mandaue JCC for Board 4.
The two-day event was made possible through the all-out support of the local government of Tuburan under the dynamic leadership of Mayor Democrito "Aljun" Barcenas and his brother, Vice Mayor Danny Diamante. The games were supervised by FIDE Arbiters Marvin Y. Ruelan and Bob Tojong assisted by CPA Rodrigo Ababat and Tony Cabibil. (FREEMAN)