FIDE Master (FM) Austin Jacob Literatus emerged champion in the 2022 Jardin del Roca Chess for Peace Open Tournament held on Sunday, March 20, 2022, at the Jardin del Roca resort in Toril, Davao City.
Literatus, a former National University (NU) chess varsity standout and a UAAP men's chess bemedaled player was unbeaten, earning 5.5 points in the six-round Swiss System format tournament organized by lawyer Jong Guevarra Jr. of the Guevarra Law Office.
The Toril-based Dabawenyo forced a draw with John Gerard Acedo in about 40 moves in their second-round encounter.
"Losing nako ate, parehas lang panic time then nauwi sa draw (I was losing, both of us were in panic time and it ended up with a draw)," Literatus said in a Messenger interview on Monday, March 21, 2022.
Acedo settled for the runner-up honors after tallying five points in the chessfest that attracted a total of 42 players.
Aside from taking home the champion's trophy, Literatus also pocketed the top P6,000 cash prize while Acedo got P4,000.
The champion said he had to adjust in the early going of the competition as it was the first time for him to play over-the-board since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country in early 2020.
The 24-year-old woodpusher added, "Katong mga early rounds medyo shaky pa kay naanad sa online. Nanibago jud ko. I feel happy with the win pero daghan man pud wala gahapon tapos siguro ang ubang playres nag-adjust pa pud (In the early rounds, it seemed shaky as I was already used to playing online. It was new for me. I feel happy with the win but some didn't make it and other players were still adjusting)."
Rounding up the top 10 were third to seventh placers national masters (NMs) Christian Gian Karlo Arca and Henry Roger Lopez of Panabo City, Allen Mirano, arena grandmaster (AGM) Lyndon Sombilon, and Gino Angelo Asuncion who each scored 4.5 points to go home with P1,240 apiece.
Denzel John Amar, John Ray Batucan, and Bhing Joel Gimony made identical four points to share the eighth to 10th spots and claim P600 each.
AGM Rowelyn Joy Acedo, who also finished with four points, romped away with the best female award prize of P600 along with top senior Reynaldo QuiƱonez who accounted for 3.5 points.
Guevarra said he organized the event as it had been over two years since the last over-the-board chess tournament was held in the city.
"I was also inspired to hold the tourney because of the Russian-Ukraine war, two strong chess playing countries. If only their differences can be settled in a chess match then we would have world peace, in line w/ FIDE's motto which is Gens Una Sumus', meaning We are one," he said.