GRAND master Rogelio "Joey" Antonio, Jr., emerged champion in the recently-concluded 1st Kadayawan Fide-Rated Open Rapid Chess Championships at the Eskina, Lanang Business Park.
Antonio lived up to his billing, earning a total of seven points with no defeat in the eight-round tournament organized by National Chess Federation of the Philippines regional director James Infiesto.
The top seed tormented his victims third-seed national master (NM) Rustum Tolentino, fifth-seed Jayson Salubre, eight-seed Jhonnel Balquin, 16th-seed Reynaldo Gempero, Jr., Nofre Reyes and Ryan Concepcion in the first six rounds.
Antonio, however, drew with NM John Marvin Miciano of Davao City in the penultimate round and Para Games medalist Henry Roger Lopez in the eighth.
On his Facebook status, Antonio said, “To God be the glory!” for winning the Kadayawan Open.
“Maraming salamat sa mga sumuporta at naniniwala," Antonio, who bagged the P20,000 top prize, said.
Tolentino grabbed the runner-up honors as he edged two other 6.5 scorers Lopez and NM David Elorta via superior tiebreaks.
Miciano, a varsity scholar of Far Eastern University, landed fifth. He bested fellow six-pointers NM Levi Mercado, Fide master Randy Segarra, NM Alexander Lupian, Gino Angelo Asuncion, Jimzon Trangia, Allen Mirano, Perkins Bayron and Jimmy Dano.
The second to tenth placers also received cash prizes along with the top kiddie, juniors, person with disability and female players also received prizes in the event presented by the city government of Davao through the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office.
A total of 110 players from different parts of the country competed.