DAVAO City’s arena grand master (AGM) Rowelyn Joy Acedo endured the shaking and overcame her fears brought about by the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that hit Davao City and other parts of Mindanao as she still emerged champion in the P25,000 Women’s Invitational elimination tournament held Sunday, February 7.
“Naglinog pajud gahapon (Sunday) Ate Mar while gadula ko, kulba kaayo. Di ko pwede muhawa since may Zoom po kami two cameras para anti-cheating and basin ma-default ko og muhawa ko (I was playing when the earthquake struck yesterday [Sunday], I was so nervous. I can’t leave since we were on Zoom and there were two cameras for anti-cheating purposes and I’d lose by default if I had left),” she told Sun.Star Davao Monday, February 8, amused by her experience.
Acedo, a former bemedalled UAAP De La Salle University (DLSU) Dabawenya chesser tallied a total of 13 points in the 16-round, 17-player Swiss System format competition held via lichess.org.
She outclassed woman candidate master (WCM) Christy Lamiel Bernales and woman international master (WIM) Jan Jodilyn Fronda who placed second and third, respectively.
Bernales registered 12 points while Fronda had 11.5 points organized by the Bayanihan Chess Club and sponsored by Euro gaming consultant and sportsman Kim Zafra.
Acedo said, “I'm so happy po, I didn’t expect po given na malakas po talaga ang field and some of them are Philippine Team and also a champion. (I’m so happy because I didn’t expect to win considering the strong field of players, some are members of the Philippine team and are also champions). This is my best performance.”
She only lost to her former DLSU teammate Fronda in their ninth round encounter.
Acedo, a chess coach of chess.com and one of the coaches of the Rising Phoenix Chess Academy headed by IM Joel Banawa, eked out 11 wins and four draws.
She said that the bullet tournament, sponsored by Master Sali and Babin Smith, she competes in every night has helped her secure the victory. “Because it helps me to think and play fast,” she added.
Trailing behind were woman Fide master (WFM) Cherry Ann Mejia (10.5 points) in fourth, Lexie Hernandez (10 points) fifth, WFM Allaney Jia Doroy (10 points) sixth, woman national master (WNM) Francois Magpily (9.5 points) seventh, WIM Kylene Joy Mordido (nine points) eighth,
WIM Bernadette Galas (nine points) ninth, Jerlyn Mae San Diego (9 points) 10th, WNM Jean Karen Enriquez (8.5 points) 11th,
WCM Mira Mirano (7.5 points) 12th, April Joy Claros (seven points) 13th, AIM Alexandra Sydney Paez (seven points) 14th, WIM Catherine Perena-Secopito (5.5 points) 15th, WFM-elect Antonella Berthe Racasa (three points) 16th, and Rohanisah Buto (two points) 18th.
The 25-year-old champion will next clash against Zafra in the P25,000 winner-take-all, one-on-one grand finals match online scheduled on February 14. The first one to win 10 rounds, excluding draws, will pocket the prize money.