Gatlabayan, Rivera bag Marikina chess crowns
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 07 Nov 2022
MARIKINA CITY---Mark Kevin Gatlabayan outdueled Tristan Jared Cervero in the third round then scored 2.0 points in the last two rounds to capture the Class A- Expert crown while John Luis Rivera made it two-in-row in kiddies play in the Tatay Domeng Santos Invitational Rapid Chess Tournament at Marikina Riverside Gazeebo last Sunday, Nov. 6.
Gatlabayan, who vaulted into a share of the lead with Cervero by beating fancied Johnny Muring and Adrian Esteva in the earlier rounds, outwitted Cervero in their crucial encounter then edged sportswriter Joey Villar in the fourth round and Mark Louie Velasco in the fifth and final round to emerge solo champion in the Class A- Expert with perfect five points.
Rivera, who scored 3.0 points in the first three rounds, proved sharper at resumption, sweeping his last two matches against Zeyus Kyle Del Mundo and Rey Albert Cruz to rule the 14-and-under category to match the perfect record of Gatlabayan with 5.0 points.
Other notable winners in this 1-day, 10 minutes plus 3 seconds increment time control format in honor of the oldest living player of the Marikina Chess Community 94 years old Tatay Domeng Santos, sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), though not FIDE-rated are Joel Cruz and Publico Bonifacio for the Class B- Intermediate division and Ramon dela Cruz for the Class C- Novice category who also tallied perfect 5.0 points each.
Marikina Chess Federation President Johnny "Joel" Gaudia exhorted the winners and the rest of the participants to strive for more and work hard to further hone their talent and skills during awards rites also graced by Asia's First Grandmaster/World Chess Hall of Famer Eugene Torre, International Master Chito Garma, National Master Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. and US based Sir Jessie Villasin.
Chief Arbiter was Fide Arbiter Rudy Ibanez while Deputy Chief Arbiter was Ranier Pascual assisted by NA Rusfranco Salcedo and CA Rogelio Baccay.-Marlon Bernardino-
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