IM Concio wins Balinas Rapid Chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 19 Mar 2023
MANILA---International Master Michael Concio was crowned champion in the 2023 Balinas Open Rapid Chess Tournament held at the 2nd Floor Open Kitchen Foodhall, Rockwell Business Center, Sheridan Street, Mandaluyong City on Saturday, March 18.
Concio scored a total of 6.5 points after the National Chess Federation of the Philippines 7-round Swiss System competition-sanctioned tournament with 10 minutes plus 5 seconds increment time control that attracted 254 entries - chess players.
Actually, Concio figured in a triple tie with International Master Daniel Quizon and National Master Mark Jay Bacojo with similar 6.5 points but Concio settled for the top honors by virtue of a higher tie-breaker.
Concio received P20,000, while Quizon and Bacojo got P10,000 and P7,000 for winding up second and third, respectively.
“Actually, I didn’t expect the outcome (results) but I decided to play it safe against NM Bob Jones Liwagon having an edge in the tie-breaks plus I saw the final game of (IM Daniel) Quizon versus (NM Mark Jay) Bacojo which seems to look drawish,” said the 17 years old Concio, a Grade 12 student of Dasmariñas Integrated High School.
The last round saw Concio halving the point with National Master Bob Jones Liwagon, as did Quizon and Bacojo.
Concio, Quizon, Bacojo are members of the star-studded Dasmariñas Chess Academy of rep. Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga Jr., mayor Jenny Barzaga and national coach FM Roel Abelgas.
Rounding up to the top 11 with 6.0 points each is International Master Rolando Nolte, International Master Paulo Bersamina, Fide Master Alekhine Nouri, National Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca, Sherwin Tiu, International Master Ronald Dableo, Arena International Master Cyrus Vladimir Francisco, and Liwagon.
Liwagon, who hails from Cotabato City, a Major officer ranks at the Philippine Army, Office of the Army Judge Advocate under Col. Liberato O. Ramos won the top PECA Executive award and pocketed P5,000 for his efforts.
No less than Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre, Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr., Bayanihan Chess Club co-founding chairman engr. Antonio Balinas, former National Chess Federation of the Philippines executive director Red Dumuk, Singapore-based Rosalinda Balinas, Angie Balinas, Mark Roland Navarro of Open Kitchen, Mr. Gem Zafra and Chief Arbiter NA Ranier Pascual led the closing rites.
The 1-day FIDE rated event was sponsored by Balinas Family in close cooperation with China Aurelio and Mimi Casas of Open Kitchen, Richard Poblete-Ramos of Eurobake, Hongkong national chess player Sunny Lo and Thailand-based NM coach Gerald Ferriol.
Zigfrido Dokino Abella and John Paul Gaffud gave his artwork – painting impression of the great late GM Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. to his only daughter, Nur Rose Balinas.
"Bayanihan did another historic tournament for Philippine Chess," said US based Dr. Joe Balinas.-Marlon Bernardino-
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