CITY CENTRAL School bet Joseph Alexis dela Rama played through undefeated to rule the 1st Araw ng Bolisong Chess Tournament 2019 held February 9 at Bolisong Barangay Hall in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental.

Dela Rama dished out an immaculate 7 of 7 performance in open Grades 4-6 category to capture the P2,000 top purse.

Andy James Sabella scored 6 points to finish solo second and claim the runner-up prize of P1,500.

Cassey Miguel Tabamo edged out two other 5-pointers--Ociene Vera Cruz and Kyla Marie Capili--in the Bucholz tiebreakier to bag the P1,000 third prize also with medal.

“Without Super Tawing around, mora'g walay pressure kang dela Rama to emerge as elementary chess champion this time around,” one chess parent said, referring to kiddie chess sensation Ruelle Canino, who is dela Rama’s nemesis in local chess rivalry.

Vera Cruz and Capili occupied fourth and fifth, while Raphael Jeanne Lasprillas and Makainah Romulo settled at sixth and seventh places with identical 4.5 points production.

Sharing eight to 13th spot with similar 4 points were Honey Jane Salabsab, Jasmine Acub, Jethro Renz Bagonoc, Acmad Amerah Hadji, Maxinne Granido, Mike Ian Oco and Chiara Fiona Tan.

Aimed to discover more chess talents in El Salvador, the first ever Araw ng Bolisong chessfest was made possible through the help of Bolisong barangay chair Roberto Rabuya, who acted as tournament director with the able support of arbiters Tino Salabsab and Engr. Jun Gunayan.