Tuesday, September 25, 2007 CDO bets rule `07 Iligan chessfest By Lynde Salgados
NATIONAL Master Levi Mercado is considered a late-bloomer in the 64-square-board game while Mercado bested Oro compatriot Johnnel Balquin in the seventh and final round to crown himself as the 2007 Iligan City Fiesta Open chess tournament champion.
Mercado had actually a lot of catching to do as he trailed the erstwhile undefeated Balquin by one point before the final round.
And since their only closest pursuer Lyndon Lumancas (5 pts), also from Cagayan de Oro, halved the point with NM Ernesto Fernandez (4.5 pts) of Pagadian on board 2 to finish with 5.5 points, Mercado can equal Balquin's output by beating him and then take the title via the "win-over-the-other" tiebreaking rule.
This is exactly what Mercado did as he played white against Balquin in their make-or-break encounter.
"Things like this won't happen all the times. At least, genius ilang strategy and performance sa last round," local chess observers, said.
For tying for first place, the two equally divided among themselves the combined purses of P23,000 for first (P15,000) and second (P8,000) places.
"Mora'g gi-advance na'ng daan ni master iyang premyo kay imbitado man ang mga chess players sa iyang birthday celebration niadtong miaging semana sa El Dorado beach," regular habitues at Divisoria Chess Plaza were one in saying.
They, however, credited Balquin as the one responsible in slowing down the giants by defeating 3rd Pichay Cup titlist Fernandez and Davao del Norte sensation Dharim Bacus who outclassed 2005 National Shell Active junior ruler Bryan Jose in the fifth round.
So awesome was the CDO bets' conquest in the 63-man field Iligan Open which saw six of them making it to the top-10 circle including a spectacular 1-2-3 finish by Mercado, Balquin and Lumancas.
"Talking about chess development..lahi na gyod ang Cagayan de Oro karon labi na kon all-out support ang ipakita sa atong mga opisyales sa siyudad. Halos tanang tournament nga apilan gapatak na atong mga CDO pushers," said local Asset in chess trainer, Lorenzo "Jun" Cuizon who arbitered the three-day chessfest.
The top-10 winners were Mercado (CDO), Balquin (CDO), Lumancas (CDO), Bacus (Panabo, Davao Norte), Jose (CDO), Allan Cantonjos (Gingoog City), Agar, Antonio Chavez Jr. (CDO) and Joseph Maestrado Jr. (CDO).
In their separate final round matches, Jose trounced NM Roger Sarip of Cotabato while Maestrado outwitted Gensan pride Ferdinand Leysa.
