Alcodia, Baliwang top San Mateo Rapid Chess
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 16 Feb 2017
Final Standings:
(Open division)
4.5 points---NM Romeo Alcodia
4.0 points---Carlo Caranyagan
3.5 points---Louie Salvador, Roy Ranoa, Joshua Arias
3.0 points---Steven Lanada, Jed Abudanza, Rolly Jon Baliwang, Jake Espinosa, Miguel Allen Vanta, Randy Quinonez, Jerome Alcodia
(Elementary and High School division)
5.0 points---Mark John Baliwang
4.0 points---Rheabel Gabrinao
3.5 points---Airam Lucero, Bryan Magro, James Gaffud
3.0 points---Don Juan Renato Ona, Francis Michael Paris, John Paul Gaffud, Rodulfo Camacho, Menard Ticon
2.5 points---Hannah Claire Avellanada
San Mateo, Rizal---National Master Romeo Alcodia of Baras, Rizal and Mark John Baliwang of Quezon City ruled their respective divisions in the Cayetano "Jun" R. Santos Jr. Open Rapid Chess Championships at the San Mateo National Highschool, Guitnang Bayan 1, San Mateo, Rizal last Saturday.
Alcodia, a former top player of Rizal Technological University (RTU) Mandaluyong defeated ex-San Sebastian College standout Louie Salvador of Quezon City in the fifth and final round to topped the Open category with 4.5 points. A native of San Manuel, Tarlac, Alcodia prevailed after 55 moves of Sicilian Richter-Rauzer skirmish using the white pieces.
Arellano University bet Carlo Caranyagan, on the other hand, crushed Marikina Polytechnic College (MPC) ace Steven Lanada took runner-up honors with 4.0 points.
Rounding up to the top 12 finishers in the Open category 20-minutes time control format were Louie Salvador, Roy Ranoa, Joshua Arias, Steven Lanada, Jed Abudanza, Rolly Jon Baliwang, Jake Espinosa, Miguel Allen Vanta, Randy Quinonez and Jerome Alcodia.
Earlier, Cayetano "Jun" R. Santos Jr., a well known chess supporter here in San Mateo, Rizal and Ronron Demain of Quezon City graced the opening of the one-day championship where they exhorted the participants to strive for excellence. Santos Jr., a former Meralco Chess team player , beat Demain during their chess exhibition matches here.
But while Alcodia, the 1999 Malaysia Grand Asian Chess Challenge gold medalist emerged champion in the Open category which was organized by JRS Chess Club in close cooperation with JRS Power System and Trading, Baliwang won the Elementary and High School division.
Baliwang, the nine year-old pupil of San Diego Elementary School in Batasan, flashed superb form and swept all his matches to tally a perfect five points including a win over Airam Lucero of San Mateo, Rizal in the final canto.
Also included in the chess activities was a free chess clinic supervised by tournament director Anthony Avellaneda and assisted by chief arbiter Jed Abudanza.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
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