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Friday, March 29, 2024

Bitoon takes Open title, Fronda is women’s champ

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IT took him 17 long years,  but Grandmaster Richard Bitoon, finally won his second national title, four years after earning a GM title in the Battle of Grandmasters-National Championship held at the Philippine Sports Commission Athletes Dining Hall, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, Manila. 

Final Standings (Open Division)—Bitoon, Antonio 14, Pascua 11, Torre, Laylo, Gomez. Turqueza 10, Docena 9, Bersamina, Abelgas 8, Frayna 6.

GM Richard Bitoon ponders his next move during an earlier round. He finished with 14 points to emerge as the 2015 Battle of the Grandmasters Open Divisioin champion.

Final Standings (Women’s Division)—Fronda 11.5, Perena-Secopito, San Diego 11, Suede, Enriquez 10, Bernales 8.5, Lozano, Membrere, Mendoza 8, Pineda 4.

The 39-year old from Medellin, Cebu opted to draw his last two assignments in the 11-round tournament and emerged tied with fellow GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio with14 points each,  but clinched the title via a superior tiebreak. 

Antonio had utlasted 17-year old NM Jerad Docena in the 11th and final round, but the victory was not enough to prevent Bitoon from taking the title, his first since topping the Far East Bank National Chess Open Championship as a 22-year old back in 1988.

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“Hindi ko na pinilit manalo ng last two rounds. Mahirap din yung magtake ka ng risks,” said Bitoon on his last drawn matches.

Antonio, who took a leave from active competition due to health issues, settled for second place.

International Master Haridas Pascua, who was tied with Antonio after eight rounds with 10 points, also drew his last two matches to gain solo third with 11 points.

Defending champion Eugene Torre downed IM Paulo Bersamina in the 10th but only managed a draw with Fide Master Joseph Mari Turqueza in the final round to finish with ten points, along with GMs Darwin Laylo and John Paul Gomez and Turqueza.

Docena finished with nine points, while Bersamina and NM Roel Abelgas had eight points apiece. WIM Janelle Mae Frayna, who drew her Round 10 match with Gomez and drew a bye in the final round, finished with six points overall.

In the women’s divison of the tournametn organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and supported by the PSC, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda also drew her last two matches, but still emerged as champion after defending women’s champion WIM Catherine-Perena Secopito lost to untitled Brena Mae Membrere in the 9th round.

Fronda finished with 11. 5 points using the Torre-Pichay scoring system, while Perena Secopito and WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego, who are tied with 11 points, took second and third places, respectively.

WIM Mikee Charlene Suede, WNM Karen Jean Enriquez had ten ponts each, while Christy Lamiel Bernales finished with 8.5 points, followed by Arvie Lozano, Membrere and WFM Shania Mae Mendoza with eight, and Judith Pineda with four.

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