Four members of the memorable Batch ‘78 of the National Juniors Chess Championships held at the Knight of Columbus Bldg. in Intramuros, Manila 41 years ago will see action in the Open Division A in the pivotal 7th leg of the 2019 GM Balinas National Executive Chessfest, organized by the Philippine Executive Chess Association.
The one-day tournament will be held on June 22 at the Alphaland Place in Makati.
The four national former junior standouts are 1st FIDE Master Adrian Pacis (who won the juniors’ title in 1978), International Master Ricardo de Guzman, a former OFW chess coach who has returned to the country from the US, (2nd placer) IM and engineer Petronio Roca and Dr. Jenny Mayor, who is currently president and chief organizer of PECA.
Mayor, a dentist, finished 7th out of more than 200 bets in the 1978 national juniors’ tournament.
Other notable entries are IM Angelo Young, also an OFW chess coach from the US, leg winners FM Randy Segarra, US Master and engineer Arjoe Loanzon, FM Nelson Mariano lll & Atty. Melzar Galicia.
Season 1 Grand Finals champion NM Atty. Bob Jones Liwagon joins the hunt for the title, as well as Reyes brothers Narquingel (Grand Finals first runner-up) and FM Narquinden of PLDT.
Other contenders include current Grand Prix leader Dandel Fernandez of Maynilad, OFW NM Engineer Robert Arellano, PECA VP for Mindanao James Infiesto, PECA Treasurer NM Engineer Efren Bagamasbad, NM Nicomedes Alisangco, NM Allan Sasot, NM Atty. retired judge Rosendo Bandal Jr., NM Rudy Ibanez, NM Atty. Edmundo Legaspi (PECA VP for Luzon), accountant Roberto Grepo, realtor Mark Anthony Yabut, Engineer Ravel Canlas, Dr. Fred Paez (incoming PECA president for 2020), PECA Business Manager Joselito Cada, Engr. Arjie Bayangat, Allen Gandia, chemist Ritchie Evangelista, Steven James Dacanay, Atty. Jose Aspiras, Atty. Philipp King Cartagena, Guya brothers Ali and Tyrone and PECA first president Prez Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe.
Four players from this group will advance to the Boracay Grand Finals set Nov. 16 and 17 at the Casa Pilar Resort, Boat Station 2, Barangay Manoc Manoc.
Metro Manila Executives are encouraged to join this leg as the next ones will be held in the provinces.
PECA will decide next month if it would be able to hold one more leg in Metro Manila in last week of September or in the second week of October before the 15th and last leg in Zamboanga City on Oct. 26.
Invited as guest of honor on Saturday is Engr. Antonio Balinas, elder brother of GM Rosendo Balinas.
GM Balinas became the second Asian Grandmaster after GM Eugene Torre, winning the Odessa (Ukraine, USSR) Super Tournament in 1976.
For more information, contact Atty. Orbe (09188974410), Dr. Mayor (09351004755), Dr. Paez (09212728172), Joselito Cada (09499981949), Dir. Martin Gaticales (09998851432) and NM Bagamasbad (09157209145).
