An electrical engineering student of Marinduque State Colleges swept his matches to reign supreme in the 1st BKCCI Governor’s Cup Chess Championship at the MSC Stadium in Tanza, Boac, Marinduque over the weekend.
The pride of Bicas-Bicas in Buenavista town, Toche Quijano garnered an unblemished record of 5 points in the 5-round Swiss System to bag the prestigious Governor’s Cup title of the event presented by Marinduque Gov. Presbiterio Velasco Jr., with support from lone District Representative (former House Speaker) Cong. Lord Allan Velasco.
Tied at second place were Richard Pelaez and Joseph Ricafrente with 4.5 points apiece, with the former getting the upperhand by virtue of win-over-the-other.
John Christopher Corcuera, Jeric Mendoza and Marc Dangel Perilla were with 4 points each, while 3.5 pointers were Ronelo Embing, Marc Vincent Manali and John Timothy Fiedelan.
Serelyn May Mataac, a young chess sensation from the province of world renowned Moriones Festival was crowned queen of the chessfest in the female division. The 16-year-old gem from Bgy. Matalaba of the Municipality of Sta. Cruz broke loose in a four-way tie (4 points) with Candy Mangundi, Vanessa Joy Regalado and Maricar Andrin via the quotient system to grab the distaff title of the tournament organized by Boac Knight Chess Club, Inc., headed by President Engr. Lauro Bautista and event coordinator Giovanni Buhain.
Veteran woodpusher Rodolfo Lanuza Jr. topped the seniors’ division.
The 68-year-old native of Mataas na Bayan in Boac led a three-way logjam, with Rosario Garay and Gualberto Lustero all garnering 4 points apiece.
Lanette Shemaine Oh, a 9-year-old wiz from Lupac in Boac took the limelight in kiddies’ division with 4 points, split over John Meneses Jayag and a full game ahead of youngster Tristan James Baldovino with 3 points to show.
“Kahit na sino sa mga namayagpag sa kanilang kategorya ay deserving sa handog sa papremyo ni Gov. Velasco. Lahat sila ay ang taas ng adrenaline sa laro at na-inspire sa mensahe ng espesyal na panauhing si WGM Janelle Mae Frayna. Nais din nilang matupad ang wish ni Gov na magmumula sa bayan ng Marinduque ang susunod na grandmaster in the near future,” said Buhain, an executive chesser of the Philippine Executive Chess Association.
The one-day chess event was supervised from the opening salvo to the awarding rites by Rona Bautista of BKCCI, arbiter Gener Vitto and Marinduque pride Laguna-based chess leader PECA president Dr. Fred Paez.