Fide Master (FM) Nelson “Elo” Mariano III put on a strong start and a stronger finish to run away with the Open crown (2000 and above rating) while Roberto Manguiob recovered in time to pocket the Challenger’s plum (1900 and below) in the third leg of the 2019 Alphaland (PECA) National Executives Grand Prix Chess Championships at the Activity Hall, Second Floor Alphaland Makati Place in Malugay Street, Makati City last weekend.
Mariano and National Master (NM) Bob Jones Liwagon, a Captain at the Philippine Army, playing under the baton of Colonel Florentino Mendez Jr, Acting Chief, Army Real Estate Office and Army Judge Advocate (AJA) Colonel Maria Victoria Girao scored 4.5 points in 6 rounds but Mariano was declared the champion via tie-break points.
Mariano and Liwagon got P6,000 each after equally dividing the combined P12,000 cash prize for the top two finishers in the Open division (2000 and above rating) of this one-day rapid event, organized by the Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA) under the leadership of its president Dr. Jenny Mayor.
Allen Gandia and Dandel Fernandez tied for third and fourth with 4.0 points while Mark Anthony Yabut and National Master (NM) Robert Arellano scored identical 3.5 points for 5th to 6th place while National Master (NM) Efren Bagamasbad ended up with three points for 7th place.
In the Challenger’s section, 1900 and below limit rating, Manguiob and MSI Konstruct president engineer Mark Oliver Ingcad shares the top honors with 5.0 points apiece in six outings.
Manguiob took the title with a superior tiebreak score.
Manguiob and Ingcad got P4,500 each after equally divided the combined P9,000 cash prize for the top two finishers.
Malaysia Para Games double gold medal winner Felix Aguilera and Leonito Raul Villate was tied for third to fourth with 4.5 points followed by 5th to 7th place Michael Renz Canonoy, Leo Lofranco and Jeffrey Ravago with 4.0 points each.
At 8th to 11th places are Emmanuel Asi, Cris Cuntapay, Novo Tuazon and Orlando Pascual with 3.5 points each.
Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA president Dr. Jenny Mayor graced the awards rites along with NCFP director Martin “Binky” Gaticales, Umeå, Sweden based Woman International Master (WIM) Cristine Rose Mariano-Wågman and Queensland, Australia based Ric Ambatali.
The fourth leg of the 2019 National Executives Grand Prix Chess Championships (Bacolod City-leg) goes to 4th Floor Metro Lobby, Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental on March 31.