NM Lopez rules Tarlac Open Rapid Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 25 Sep 2023
Final Standings: (5 Rounds Swiss System, 15 plus 3 seconds increment time control format)
4.5 points---NM Henry Roger Lopez, GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr.
4.0 points---NM Rolly Parondo Jr., Val Sangalang, Jhulo Goloran, Vince Angelo Medina
3.5 points---NM Marlon Bernardino Jr., NM Ronald Llavanes, NM James Infiesto, Menandro Redor
TARLAC CITY – National Master Henry Roger Lopez displayed his brilliant form to claim victory in the JMN Internet Installation Services Open Rapid Chess Tournament at the Nepo Farm in Tarlac City on Sunday, September 24, 2023.
Lopez, a member of the Philippine Para chess team, scored 4.5 points to bring home the P4,000 cash prize plus trophy courtesy of sportsman Tony Nepo in close cooperation with Jonniel Nepomuceno, Engr. Angelito Hizon and Henry Calacday.
He defeated Teresa Bilog of Valenzuela City in the first round, Judylito Ulanday of Sual, Pangasinan (2nd round), Val Sangalang of Tarlac City (3rd round) and Carl Zirex Sato of Panabo City, Davao del Norte (4th round) and split the points with National Master Rolly Parondo Jr. of Oton, Iloilo (5th round).
“I am very happy with my victory because almost all of the top players in Tarlac and nearby provinces as well as those from Metro Manila joined the tournament," the 42-year-old Lopez, AB History graduate student at Holy Cross Davao College, said in an interview on Sunday.
It shall be recalled that Lopez won 1 gold and 2 bronze medals during the 2023 ASEAN Para Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia last June.
The Panabo City, Davao del Norte resident Lopez finished at second place in the Grandparents Day Celebration Open Rapid Chess Tournament dubbed as Dear Lola, Lolo and Apo was held at the Araneta Center, Farmers Plaza, Cubao, Quezon City last September 9, 2023.
13-time Philippine Open Champion Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. of Quezon City finished at second place with the same 4.5 points while Parondo, Sangalang, Jhulo Goloran of Quezon City and Vince Angelo Medina of Cabuyao City, Laguna have identical 4.0 points.
GM Antonio earned P4,000 plus trophy while Parondo, Sangalang, Goloran and Medina won P1,000 each, respectively, as their purses.
GM Antonio opened his campaign with a hard win against Allan Ocampo of Tarlac City. GM Antonio ended his winning streak after absorbing a draw against Jan Francis Mirano of Aklan in the second round.
However, GM Antonio fought back, winning his game against Pacifico Ramos of Tarlac City, Hizon and National Master Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. of Quezon City, in order.
"I would like to thank my wife Aileen for supporting my participation in the JMN Internet Installation Services Open Rapid Chess Tournament at the Neopo Farm in Tarlac City, " said GM Antonio, who is fresh from winning the Iligan Diyandi Festival Individual Open Rapid Chess Tournament last September 15, 2023 held at the Robinsons Place Atrium in Iligan City.
The seventh to 10th placers were Bernardino, National Master Ronald Llavanes of Angeles City, Pampanga, National Master James Infiesto of Davao City and Menandro Redor of Makati City, respectively. All these players scored 3.5 points, but were ranked according to their tie-break points.
Meanwhile, Zoe Ramos of Porac, Pampanga and Varsity Player of Holy Angel University in Angeles City was named top high school player award.
On the other hand, Atty. Cheyzer Crystal Mendoza of Tigaon, Camarines Sur was named the top PWD competitor while Hizon, James Henry Calacday, Rey Martin, Marlon Salamida and Pacifico Ramos were named the top local woodpusher.
Best Barangay winners were Barangay Carangian, Barangay San Rafael and Barangay Salapungan.-Marlon Bernardino
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
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