PLAYING true to form, Mindanao's top non-master Johnnel Balquin defeated co-leader Nazario Ubanan in the final round to become the inaugural champion of the recent FIDE-rated Masters Class Chess School Invitational Chess Tournament in Cagayan de Oro City.

With the crucial win, Balquin finished with 8 points in 10 rounds of standard chess (one hour and 30 minutes time control) to pocket the P7,000 top purse in the premier Group A category.

"He made one inferior move in the middlegame that I clearly saw what was coming then," said Balquin in vernacular, who opened the final match with C4 (the solid English Opening) against his fellow Kagay-anon rival Ubanan.

Balquin, who immediately left for Davao City to coach the Northern Mindanao chess team in the Palarong Pambansa, also won over Kisolon town Mayor Jose Antonio Villo and lawyer Richard Macas of Bukidnon, Dr. Wil Maghanoy of Iligan and Cleto "Bong" Vasquez, National Master Levi Mercado and businessman Adelardo Pagente, all of Cagayan de Oro.

He drew with Bryan Jose of Talakag, Bukidnon and Jayson Salubre of Panabao, Davao del Norte.

Both Jose, a former National Shell Active Junior champion, and seasoned campaigner Salubre scored 7.5 points to share second and third places with an equal take-home of P4,500.

Ubanan landed at solo fourth place with 7-point output to receive P3,000.

Macas and Villo were tied at 3.5 points to settle for P1,500 each.

FA Margie Narcilla of Tacurong City said she was thankful to the sponsoring National Master Roly Tan of Goldcrest Marketing Corporation and Ronald Rufin of Radyo Natin for the trust and confidence accorded her to handle the first ever FIDE-rated Group A chess competition in Mindanao alongside FNA Lorenzo "Jun" Cuizon.

"It was not an ordinary tournament. So, the players who were invited to play were all very lucky," said Narcilla, the only female FIDE arbiter in Mindanao.

National Master Rustum Tolentino, the Atty. Rufus Rodriguez Cup and Kaamulan Festival Open champion, decided not to play to help in the smooth conduct of the five-day chessfest, which also saw the emergence of Mary Joy Tan of Jasaan, Misamis Oriental as winner of the Group B section intended for a few selected junior participants.

"Mine was not an easy task too, but a joy to have the prestigious chess tourney appeared live on stream for the world to see," Tolentino told SunStar Cagayan de Oro.

Here's the final ranking: 1. Jhonnel Balquin 8 pts, Bryan Jose 7.5 pts, Jayson Salubre 7.5 pts, Nazario Ubanan 7 pts, Richard Macas 3.5 pts, Jose Antonio Villo 3.5 pts, Wil Maghanoy 3 pts, Cleto Vasquez 3 pts, NM Levi Mercado 2 pts, Adelardo Pagente 0.