HOMEGROWN chessers David Rey Ancheta of Corpus Christi School and Joel Lawrence Hoy of Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive School (MOGCHS) defended turf in the 2019 Cagayan de Oro City Fiesta Tournament concluded on Sunday, August 18, at the Limketkai Mall.
This, as Ancheta and Hoy shared the top honors in secondary and elementary divisions of the pre-fiesta tourney that attracted some of the best pawnpushers from around Mindanao Island.
A runner-up behind eventual winner and Corpus Christi compatriot Euniel Grant Capilitan in the recent Parents Chess Club event, Ancheta managed to improve to first place as he edged out fellow 6-pointer Asahanor Dumato of Marawi City in the Bucholz tiebreak to claim the P5,000 top purse.
Dumato brought home the runner-up prize of P3,000, while Japheth Aaron Caresosa of Panabo, Davao del Norte bagged the third prize worth P2,000.
Batang Pinoy Finals-bound Clyde Harris Saraos of Jasaan, Misamis Oriental also tied Caresosa at 5.5 points to nab the P1,000 fourth prize.
Sharing fifth to eight places at 5 points each were Emmanuel Acierto (COC-Phinma), best lady performer Lorebina Carrasco II (Corpus Christi), Capilitan (Cagayan de Oro) and Aaron John Dacut (MOGCHS).
Daniel Ancheta of Cagayan de Oro and Mary Joy Tan of Jasaan prevailed in the tiebreaker over fellow 4.5 pointers Ashlanie Pandi (MOGCHS) and Gwen Escarda (Corpus Christi) to complete the top-10 circle.
“Winning the junior crown is not an easy task kay mga kusog ang dayo nga players especially Dumato of Marawi and Caresosa of Panabo,” said arbiter Lorenzo “Jun” Cuizon.
Hoy was more convincing in pocketing the top prize in elementary rivalry as he yielded just a draw in seven rounds to nose out closest pursuers James Catayas of Davao region and El Salvador City’s Gabriel Tito Obaob and Keith Adriane Ilar who were bunched at 6 points.
Solo fifth placer is Nico Tabacuan of MOGCHS who scored 5.5 points, followed by Joseph Alexis dela Rama, Lawrence Rapahel Lawan (West City Central School), Cassey Miguel Tabamo and Andy James Sabella of El Salvador and Khent Lourence Canas who were in a big group of 5 pointers.