Wednesday, September 24, 2008 Manileño tops 7th BCM non-masters chess tourney By Roderick Osis
RYAN Dungca of Pandacan, Manila topped this year's 7th Baguio Center Mall Non-Masters Chess Tournament Open Division by a total of 6.5 points, earning him P5,000 in cash and improving his ranking in the National Chess Federation.
Unranked Alden Espanillo of Baguio City had a similar 6.5 points in the Swiss System tournament but had a lower Buchholz system points scored totaling to 30.5 against Dungca's 31.5.
The Buchholz system is a ranking system in chess developed by Bruno Buchholz in 1932 to determine ranks in a Swiss system tournament where players have the same score. It sums up the score of the players' opponents and favors those who have confronted better opponents.
Baguio's Rafael Kimmayong placed third in the two-day tournament followed by Danilo De Luna also from Baguio and Belsar Valencia capping the top five spot having a similar 6 points earned.
University of Baguio's Dante Sagyaman took home the top junior honors with a 5.5 pints earned in the seven round match while Benguet State University's Roselle Castillo took the top lady plum garnering 4.5 points.
Paul Robert Evangelista of Binalonan, Pangasinan bagged the top honors in the kiddie division with his 6 points while Philip Ian from Candon City, Ilocos Sur settled for second.
Urdaneta City's Romy Fagon took the third honors, while Christian Ray Drapete bagged the fourth place in the tournament.
Arnie Ignacio, the event's coordinator, said the tournament is aimed to promote chess especially among the youth while facilitating the development of the talented enthusiast's skills and confidence.
"Their skills and strategies will surely be highly-tested in these tournaments with a chance of bringing home cash prizes and trophies but will have the privilege of representing our community," Ignacio said.
Some 135 woodpushers joined the open category in the tournament while 51 joined in the Kiddie category.
