CAGAYAN de Oro’s top young chess players tried their very best, but still not enough to produce champion in Class B level crowded by the veterans, if not, experienced pawnpushers.

Rodney Opada turned down the challenge of National Shell Kiddies champion David Rey Ancheta from Corpus Christi School en route to hike his total points to six and a half. And that was all Ancheta needed to rule the 2018 Barangay Macabalan Pre-Fiesta Class B and Under-12 Rapid Chess Tournament concluded recently at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the seaport barangay in Cagayan de Oro.

“Patsada kaayo ang dula sa mga bata pero ni prevail gihapon ang experience as far as the top prize is concerned,” said tournament arbiter Lorenzo Cuizon, who acknowledged Joel Tongco for bankrolling the annual fiesta chessfest in cooperation with the Barangay Council of Macabalan.

For his feat, Opada went home P4,000 richer plus trophy.

A pair of teenagers in Adrian Othniel Yulo of Xavier University High School and Emmanuel Acierto of Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School came through as the next best performers in the day-long tourney using the rapid time control.

Both Yulo and Acierto scored 6 points in the company of the elderly Leo Dinglasan to finish second and third after the tiebreaker. They received P3,000 and P2,000 each while fourth-placer Dinglasan got P1,000.

Rounding up the top-10 finishers with P500 apiece were Ronald Canino, Ronnie Chavez, Philgymn Villajuan, Ronald Ompoc, Mario Cagulada and Bernard Madrazo.

Michael Pagarigan and Danilo Obeso Jr. were named as the top-2 Macabalan participants. While Jun Cabiguin emerged as the top senior competitor.

Unable to notch the Class B crown, elementary graders Joseph Alexis dela Rama of City Central School and Ancheta garnered 4.5 and 4 points, respectively, to finish first and second in the under-12 category.

Also with 4 points, Juan Ryu Bagonoc, Jordan Pacheco, Kurt John Axel Managase and Raphael Rain Eduave occupied third to 5th places. Joining them in the top 10 were Rhea Jean Canino, Jethro Renz Bagonoc, Kurt Jezzrhey Saraus and Mary Stephanie Dacut.

Janrick Lagunay and Ruelle Canino were cited as the top 10-under boys and under-19 girls’ contestants.