MAKATI CITY -- Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) Senior High School principal Professor Rey Reyes and sportswriter Jaime Joshua Frias II of Cagayan de Oro made a 1-2 finish in the Philippine Executive Chess Association (Peca) Grand Finals Blitz Chess Championships at the Activity Hall, second floor, Alphaland Makati Place, Ayala Avenue corner Malugay Street, Makati City, over the weekend.
Reyes, whose stint here is being supported by ADZU president Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ and vice president for Basic Education Fr. Stephen Abuan, SJ edged Lloyd Lanciola of Iloilo in the eleventh and final round to capture the title.
Reyes and Frias both finished with eight points, but the former won by virtue of a higher tie break points against the latter.
Frias, who is also a former barangay chairman in Cagayan de Oro City, stunned lawyer Cliburn Anthony Orbe of Alphaland Corporation in the final frame to catch Reyes on top.
Rounding up the Top 9 were third placer engineer Arjoe Loanzon (7.5 points), fourth placer John Franz De Asis (7.5 points), fifth placer Professor Arman Subaste (7.5 points), sixth placer engineer Arjie Bayangat (7 points), seventh placer Dandel Fernandez (6.5 points), eighth placer National Master and engineer Robert Arellano (6.5 points) and ninth placer Orbe (6.5 points).
National Arbiter Alexander "Alex" Dinoy served as chief arbiter. He was assisted by national arbiters Alfredo Chay and Christian Javier.
No less than Chess Arbiter Union of the Philippines (CAUP) president Red Dumuk, who is also the executive director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines led the closing rites.
Final Standings: (11 Round Swiss-system, 5 minutes + 3 seconds increment time control format)
8 points---Rey Reyes, Jaime Joshua Frias II
7.5 points---Arjoe Loanzon, John Franz De Asis, Arman Subaste
7 points---Arjie Bayangat
6.5 points---Dandel Fernandez, NM Robert Arellano, Cliburn Anthony Orbe
(Marlon Bernardino)