Noppo cop bags professional chessfest title

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

POLICE Officer 1 Ernie Abanco of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Noppo) Operations and Plans Branch emerged winner of this year's 12th Negrense Professional (Degree Holder) Individual Chess tournament.

The chessfest, which was concluded Sunday night, was held at Top's Millennium Plaza Bowling Lanes Drive-in Restaurant, Capitol Shopping Center, Bacolod City.

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Abanco of Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City, wrapped up the title via Bucholz -tie with 34 points against the 31 points of former champion Ted Ian Montoyo following a tie after Round 7 with both garnering 6 points.

Abanco won his first round match by default against journalist Radjie Caram; defeated Ronnie Villa in Round 2, Club Master Nunilon Fulo lll in Round 3 and former champion Ted Ian Montoyo in Round 4.

However, he bowed to Marvin Ting in Round 5 but rebounded against Eden Agape Tumbos in Round 6 and Danny Maersk Mangao in the final round.

A former varsity player of West Negros University until 2006, Abanco is a familiar figure in chess tourneys. He placed 2nd runner-up in the 1st Negros Closed Individual Chess Championship hosted by Antonio Aguirre at Robinsons Place-Bacolod last December; 2nd runner-up in the 2010 Sugarlandia Chess Tournament; and 1st runner-up in the 2nd George S. Aguirre/Atty. Eugenio Villasor Villanueva Jr. Memorial Negros Open Individual Chess Tournament in 2010.

In 2007, he won the title in the Bacolod Open Chess Tournament. He was also the champion in the 2004 Western Visayas Private Schools Athletic Association meet, the 2004 JRR Dizon Memorial Chess tournament and in the 2003 Negros Open Chess tournament. He was grand finalist in the 2003 Shell National Youth Active Chess and 1st runner-up in the 2002 University Games.

Abanco received the cash prize of P3,000; while 1st runner-up Montoyo received P2,000 cash.

Marvin Ting who lost his crucial match against Montoyo in Round 6, collected 5.5 points after beating James Carmelo Uy in 38 moves of Owen to place 2ndrunner-up and receive P1,500.

Aguedo Docase (5pts) is 3rd runner-up and received P1,200.00 plus "Bishop" trophy (27-inch, 4-legged) donated by Lloyd L. Felisilda, an OFW in Dubai, while CM Nunilon Fulo is 4th runner-up who received P1,000.

The annual tournament is a project organized and officiated by the Game Royale Aficionados of Negros Inc. headed by Dr. Alfonso Teorima in cooperation with Top's Millennium Plaza Bowling Lanes Inc.