Saturday, August 19, 2006
Fernandez bucks young IM rivals to win in Cantilan
SHOWING that age is not a hindrance towards excellence in chess, Ernesto Fernandez -- the 43-year-old National Master from Pagadian City -- bucked a 162-man field reinforced by the country's top young International Masters to rule the P300,000-rich 3rd Prospero Pichay Sr. Memorial Cup chess tournament.
The four-day event, concluded on Tuesday at the Surigao del Sur Institute of Technology Campus, saw Fernandez outclassing Johnnel Balquin and IM Ronald Dableo in succession before splitting the points with another youthful IM Darwin Laylo in the penultimate eight round.
"This is to encourage my fellow veterans that in chess everyone is equal regardless of age, brute, strength, height and the likes," said Fernandez who scored an easy win over decade-old-long U.S. campaigner Pedro Tidoy in the ninth and final round en route to recording a spectacular 8 points total in nine rounds.
"Chess competition is superbly tedious and highly demanding, though my iron will and strong determination finally paid off. I made it a point that I'll be able to compete in Cantilan as both physically and mentally fit," added Fernandez who was swarmed by less-fortunate contestants right after receiving the lion's share of P100,000 for solo champion.
"It was a great accomplishment for Fernandez considering that all of the Philippines' strongest young IMs were in Cantilan trying to defend their lofty statures by seeking good results since it was a Fide-rated event," said arbiter Lorenzo "Jun" Cuizon.
IM Dableo, 2003 3.2a Asian zonal champion, was held to a draw by 2006 Palawan Open titlist Anthony Makinano of Cebu City. But Dableo's 7.5 points output was enough for him to grab solo second place worth P50,000 also with trophy.
"Gusto ko mang pigilan s'ya halfway of the tournament pero nauwi rin sa tabla ang laro namin. Talagang nakatadhanang manalo ang beteranong Fernandez na yon sa Cantilan," admits Oliver Dimakiling, RP team's top scorer in Turin Chess Olympiad, in a huddle with fellow IMs Dableo and Laylo and NM John Paul Gomez.
Sharing third to eight places with 7 points each are NM Roland Nolte, Laylo, IM Barlo Nadera, IM Richard Bitoon, Gomez and Makinano.
Like Dimakiling who lost to Nolte in the seventh round, the Fide-rated Bitoon also expects a drop of his elo ratings following a shocking fourth-round defeat to the 15-year-old upstart from Cagayan de Oro City, Antonio Chavez Jr.
"Kahit na..ang importante na nakakatulong tayong mapalago ang Philippine Chess through our participation in local events here," thus said Bitoon.
Dimakiling slids at 9th place with 6.5 points to show in the company of (10th to 18th places) Balquin, NM Rustum Tolentino, Voltaire Sevillano, Tidoy, NM Elwin Retanal, Carlos Moreno III, Dharim Bacus, NM Alexander Lupian and NM Ernesto Absin.
NM Levi Mercado, at 19th spot, led a big cast of 6 pointers namely Henry Lopez, Eden Diano, Fami Fazon, Ryan Trajera, Eric Fernandez, Bryan Jose, Rhobel Legaspi, NM Abdullah Unding, Basilio Pandan Jr., Jun Narisma, Alejandro Monteros, Pablito Calub and Teddy Altres.
For the special awards, 12-year-old Lennon Hart Salgados of Corpus Christi School in Cagayan de Oro edged out Butuan's Nepthali Cultura by a point (5 to 4) to bag the top kiddy with Bohol's Jedara Docena adjudged as the top female. They got P3,000 apiece along with Caraga region's top performers Fazon, Pandan, Narisma, Monteros and Calub.
(August 19, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
