CEBU, Philippines - National Master Rommel Ganzon fought to a draw with Mario Mangubat in the final round but it did not matter as he still emerged as champion in the 2017 Rose Pharmacy Chess Classic over the weekend at the Knight Attack Chess Cafe in Robinsons Galleria Cebu.
Ganzon, who hails from Toledo City but is now based in Mandaue, finished the 7-round Swiss competition undefeated with 6.5 points to take home the P5,000 champion's purse.
Edsel Montoya, who subdued Crisanto Tan in his last assignment, pocketed P4,000 for finishing at solo second with 6.0 points, while Merben Roque, who capped his bid with a win over fellow NM Arnolito Cadiz, took the P3,000 third prize with 5.5 points.
The fourth to seventh spots were occupied by Mangubat, Venancio Loyola, Brylle Arellano and Erwin Ababat with 5.0 points each.
Rounding up the top 10 placers who got P500 apiece were NM Arnolito Cadiz and Crisanto Tan with 4.5 points and FIDE Master Anthony Makinano with 4.0 points.
The two-day tilt was the initial offering of Rose Pharmacy for 2017 through the benevolence of longtime Cebuano chess patron Boojie Lim. — EBV (FREEMAN)