Iligan pride defends chess turf

A SPATE of Cagayan de Oro chessers’ successful invasion of Iligan finally ended in the recently-held Diyandi Festival with local hero, Fide Master Victor Lluch putting up a brave stance against a throng of super strong rivals from other places.

In fact, Lluch needed some luck in the tiebreaker to nose out fellow 7-pointer National Master Rustum Tolentino of Cagayan de Oro and secured the P15,000 top purse and championship trophy of the pre-fiesta tourney dubbed as Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia Rapid Open Chess Tournament and held at Don Juana Actub Memorial Elementary School.

“Actually, very surprising ang pag-champ ni Vicoy kay peldi siya midway of the eight-round Swiss event, though he defended turf in spirited manner ,” said SunStar SuperBalita sports writer Jaime Joshua Frias II, who also participated in the City of Waterfalls’ annual chessfest.

Lluch yielded to Cagayan de Oro Nazario Ubanan in the fateful Round 4. But this only encouraged the Iliganon to buckle down to work, racking up four-straight wins including victories over Iligan City compatriot NM Fernandito Pialan, Jovi Edades and CdeO’s Johnnel Balquin for the slambang finish.

“I was hoping to win the top prize kay bug-at akong gipeldi sa last round. Pero nilamang gyod si Lluch sa Buchulz tiebreak,” said the second-running Tolentino, 8th and final round conqueror of Gingoog City pride Allan Cantonjos, who settled for P8,000 also with trophy.

Sharing third to fifth places with 6.5 points each were Iligan City’s Bength Largo, Panabo City’s Jayson Salubre and Pagadian City’s Jones Maghuyop.

Rounding up the top-10 circle are Cantonjos, Pagadian’s NM Ernesto Absin, Iligan’s Amanggay Faisal, Balquin and NM Pialan.

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