IM Garcia tops Lomibao rapid chessfest; pockets P20,000
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 20 May 2025
International Master (IM) Jan Emmanuel Garcia leaned on his vast experience to capture the title of the P105,000 Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Sheerie Joy Lomibao Open Rapid Chess Tournament, which was held on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Pavilion Mall, Greenfield District, Mandaluyong City.
IM Garcia, who plays for the Manila Load Manna Knights in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP), pocketed the P20,000 purse and the medal for ruling the tournament, which fielded over 240 woodpushers.
He had a near-perfect campaign after tallying 8.5 points in the nine-round Swiss system competition.
IM Garcia defeated King Lanz Pamplona (Round 1), Chester Acuyong (Round 2), National Master Homer Cunanan (Round 3), Lennon Hart Salgados (Round 4), and Kevin Arquero (Round 5) in the first through fifth rounds, respectively.
He snapped his five-match winning streak when he had a draw against Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. in the sixth round.
Then, IM Garcia won his last three matches against FIDE Master David Elorta (Round 7), FIDE Master Christian Mark Daluz (Round 8), and Grandmaster Daniel Quizon (Round 9).
“I am very happy with my victory because almost all of the top players in Metro Manila and nearby provinces joined the tournament," the 29-year-old resident of Sampaloc, Manila, said in an interview on Tuesday.
"I would like to thank Ateneo de Manila University Athletic Director Emmanuel Fernandez for supporting my participation in the P105,000 Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Sheerie Joy Lomibao Open Rapid Chess Tournament," added Garcia, Ateneo de Manila University chess team program head under the guidance of Athletic Director Emmanuel Fernandez.
"The event is aimed at developing good thinkers through the understanding of chess strategies and tactics, improving the logical abilities and rational thinking and reasoning of the participants, and instilling a sense of self-confidence, self-worth, and camaraderie," Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Sheerie Joy Lomibao said.
WFM Lomibao said another big chess tournament will be held this December 2025.
GM Antonio, meanwhile, finished solo second place with 8.0 points on account of seven wins and two draws, taking home the runner-up prize of P15,000, while International Master Michael Concio Jr. ended up third with a similar 8.0 points for a P10,000 purse.
FM Daluz and Chester Neil Reyes finished the tournament with a similar 7.5 points; FM Elorta, GM Quizon, Salgados, Arquero, FIDE Master Bob Jones Liwagon, Jan Clifford Labog, Sherwin Tiu, International Master Paulo Bersamina, Marcus Fratkin, Alexis Emil Maribao, National Master John Cyrus Borce, and National Master Jose "Jojo" Aquino Jr. all had identical 7.0 points.
The P105,000 Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Sheerie Joy Lomibao Open Rapid Chess Tournament was supported by Pavilion Mall, Greenfield District, Bayanihan Chess Club founding president/tournament director national master Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr., national arbiter Ranier Pascual, Mr. Travis Vincent Chua of the Nova Wellness Store, sportsman Rodolfo Enrique Rivera, and online Arena Grandmaster Reu Gabriel Sebolino. -Marlon Bernardino-
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