RODRIGO Catayas, Japheth Aaron, Rodel Buenafe Jr., and Japheth Aaron Caresosa topped their respective events at the close of the 3rd APM Rapid Chess Tournament held at the Damosa Market Basket, Lanang, Davao City recently.
Catayas tallied a total of 4.5 points in the five-round Swiss System format chessfest to annex the executive/employee title and the P1,000 purse over National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP)-Davao director James Infiesto (4.0) and Mary Israel Palero (4.0) who wounded up in the next two spots.
Infiesto and Palero received P600 and a medal each.
Caresosa, for his part, ruled the under-20 category having edged fellow 4.5 scorer Bhing Joel Gimony via superior tiebreaks while Gino Angelo Asuncion (3.0) placed third. Caresosa and Gimony took home P650 each while Asuncion received P300.
Buenafe Jr., however, clinched the under-12 crown over Ariel Fuentes and Charlene Moulic daughter (3.5) took the second and third spots, respectively. Buenafe and Fuentes took home P600 apiece while Moulic got P300.
Special awards were also given to Cyrus Donasco (top 1900 below) and Honey Grace Buenafe (best female).
Meanwhile, the 4th APM Open and Kiddies Chess Championship will unwrap Sunday at the same venue.
National arbiter Ely Acas, in a Facebook chat, said they revised the 4th APM event and will only cover two categories to give bigger prizes.