Saturday, September 06, 2008 Tolentino tops chess tournament By Edmund B. Sestoso
GEMON Tolentino of the coastal village of Piapi in Dumaguete City overtook the tournament's top seed National Master Ryan Trajera in round 6th in the ongoing 1st A and G Sy Memorial Chess Tournament.
The tournament at the Negros Club 64 playing hall at the Capitol area was sponsored by Beboy Sy. It was co-sponsored by Board Member Saleto Erames and Dumaguete City Councilor Rommel Erames.
Florendo Zamora, the tournament director said, is still in strong contention for the crown with half-a-point behind Tolentino were Jason Mongcopa and Ding Salon.
In solo third spot was Edgar Conjuico with 4.5 points, while seven aspirants shared the temporary 4th place with 4 points a piece including Ramon Sonjaco, Al Dumalag, Junaico Segismar, Almer Banaria, Ryan Trajera, Rex Siglos and Manuel Mercado.
The champion gets P1,500; second place P1,000; and the third place brings home P500.
The final seventh round showdown will be on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Negros Club 64 playing hall.
The September edition of the monthly blitz will resume this Sunday, also at 1 p.m.
The monthly qualifying round qualifies two top finishers to advance in the year-end finals on the month of December.
The qualifiers for the months of April to July include: Ryan Trajera and Junaico Segismar (April edition), Arnoild Somoza and John Lee Antonio (May edition), Rudell Siglos and Evan Tampi (June edition), Edgar Conjuico and Jeffrey Alcanrara (July edition) and Wilmier Barron and Gemon Tolentino (August edition).
