CEBU, Philippines – International Master Kim Steven Yap and two others shared the temporary lead after five rounds of action in the open division of the 1st Cebu Muslim-Christian Friendship Open Chess Tournament last Saturday at the Chessmoso Chess Club of Colonnade Mall along Colon Street, Cebu City.
Yap, who runs the Cebu School of Chess that nurtures young talents to become chess champions like him in the future, outsmarted NM Rogelio Enriquez to forge a three-way tie with FIDE Master Anthony Makinano and Michael Joseph Pagaran on identical 4.5 points.
Makinano, a former Palaro gold medallist, edged out Edcel Montoya, while Pagaran kept his title hopes alive after subduing NM Elwin Retanal.
Bundled at joint fourth to seventh spots with 4.0 points apiece were Allan Salientes, Yves Fiel, Carlos Moreno III and Ronald Ganzon.
Running from eighth to 15th spots with 3.5 points were E. Retanal, Felix Shaun Balbona, Diego Caparino, E. Montoya, Enriquez, Edsel Vosotros, Elmer Sumngat and NM Merben Roque.
The two-day tilt organized by the Association of Cebu Muslim Professionals and Entrepreneurs, Inc. (ACMEP) in association with the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (CEPCA) offers close to P30,000 in cash prize, with the overall champion pocketing P8,000.— EBV (FREEMAN)