Wednesday, March 05, 2008 Big wins for Balquin and Gonzalez By Lynde Salgados
LOCAL bets Johnnel Balquin and Jake Gonzalez virtually secure a place in Misamis Oriental's (MisOr) premier roster of players to the much-anticipated National Non-Master Chess Team Challenge the province of Misamis Oriental will be hosting here in summer time.
This, after the two MisOr chess combatants launched a successful campaign in their recent outings outside Cagayan de Oro.
Known as the "Kamandag" in local chess circuit, Gonzalez finally had one championship win to show in Mindanao rivalries after topping the 2008 WOW Sibugay Open in Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur.
The only player here partaking in Zambo Sur chessfest, Gonzalez (6 pts) showed the way with half a point lead over a tough field that included joint second placers National Masters Ernesto Fernandez and Hector Unding as well as Jezreel Lopez at 5.5 points each.
The solid title-favorite Fernandez, a big winner in the Cantilan Open that made him P100,000 richer, tried to upend Gonzalez in the seventh and final round. But the latter hang on to preserve the edge with a fighting draw.
"Gapatak gyod si Jake (the snake) sa dayo-dayo nga mga dula though, karon pa lang gyod siya nag-champion sa Mindanao," noted out Cagayan de Oro-based National Arbiter Lorenzo "Jun" Cuizon who officiated the annual Sibugay Open.
Then struck Balquin anew in the much tougher 2008 Dumaguete Open where he tied for first place with Rolando Atutubo and Fernandez at 6 points apiece.
The comebacking Atutubo, conqueror of some foreign GMs in his prime, however, prevailed in the Bucholz tiebreak to notch the top prize. Balquin and Fernandez came in at second and third, respectively.
"Suwerte lang tingali nga nipatak na sab ta kay grabe kakusog ang field," Balquin told this writer via text messaging.
Undermining fatigue, Gonzalez -- who traveled all the way to Dumaguete right after his memorable conquest in Sibugay minus the presence of defending champion Balquin -- still managed to check in at 7th place.
Rounding up the top-10 finishers in the Dumaguete Open are Cebu's Anthony Makinano, Ramos and homeground pride Bandal with identical 5.5 points effort; Gonzalez, De la Peña and Ababat -- 5 markers each and Agar Abe at 5 points.
In his recent announcement, Fide Arbiter Domingo Oga Jr. of the Capitol Chess Club revealed that Misamis Oriental under the leadership of Governor Oscar S. Moreno has already conferred with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) for the summer hosting of the first ever 2008 National Non-Master Chess Team Championships.
"Like the previous inter-province at the Limketkai Center, kining non-master team tourney nga i-host sa MisOr maoy usa sa pinakadako nga chess event nga mahitabo sa nasod karong tuiga," added National Master Roger Verganio.
Meanwhile, all systems go for the 1st Vicente L. Pimentel Sr. Memorial National Inter-Provinces Chess Team Championship on June 12-17 in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur.
Prizes at stake for the top-8 winners are P150,000, P100,000, P70,000, P50,000, P40,000, P30,000, P20,000 and P15,000. Eight to 10th placers will receive P10,000, respectively.
