TOP seed Samantha Baran of the Philippine Women’s College (PWC) of Davao and fifth seed Cirell Ross Barcelo of San Pedro College (SPC) annexed the elementary girls and boys titles, respectively, of the Dacs Sportsfest 2019 chess competition held at Davao Association of Catholic Schools (Dacs) office in Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City.

Baran survived past fellow five-pointers Tiffany Lauren Chan of Stella Maris Academy of Davao (Smad) and Ayn Beley of the University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC) with better tiebreaks to rule the distaff side.

Baran only lost to Chan in the fifth round but she posted win over St. Peter’s College of Toril’s Dione Eva Faller and Mitch Lauren Clavis, Jade Parise Bolaños of the Philippine Women’s College of Davao (PWC), Beley and Venice Go of Ateneo de Davao University (Addu).

Barcelo, meanwhile, grabbed superior tiebreaks to edge fellow 5.0 scorers Sherwin Saludo of Holy Cross College of Calinan (HCCC) and Ryle Jacob Villasfer of UIC who settled for second and third, respectively.

In the secondary division, Smad’s Blanche Ellyz Bongato and SPC’s Alisa Tabudlong both scored perfect five points but the former took the lead in girls event after rounds with higher tiebreaks over the latter, 14.5-14.0. Both players, however, will clash against each other for the crown in the final sixth round of the Swiss System format chessfest.

Ryan Gabriel Rasay also tied with five others in secondary boys category with similar three points after three rounds in the 49-player field. They will play three more rounds to determine the champion.