JAMES Bulicatin of Panabo City bagged the JEWM-Mayor Inday and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte Kadayawan Open Chess Tournament crown Sunday at the Davao Doctor's College along Quirno Avenue.
Bulicatin finished with 6.5 points along with Mohammad Sacar of the Holy Cross of Davao College but emerged with the superior tiebreak points to claim the championship trophy. He capped his triumphant campaign with a victory over Gerald Cavan in the seventh round. Bulicatin and Sacar received P3,750 each.
Third place was Harrison Maamo of Barangay 76-A while Irwin Aton of Buhangin and Reynaldo Gempero of Barangay 5-A finished fourth and fifth, respectively. All of them scored 6 points apiece.
Young woodpusher, FMM-elect John Ray Batucan of Toril also finished with 6 points to end up sixth place while Ariel Nino Aton of Mintal Comprehensive National High School (6) placed seventh.
Organizers of the two-day competition also awarded special prizes, with Gliddel Mirantes of Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Elementary School and Michael John Varquez of the Do¤a Pilar Learning Center emerging the best girl and boy elementary players.
The best high school players were John Jerly Danao of Mintal Comprehensive High School and FM-elect Austin Jacob Literatus of Doña Carmen Denia National High School.
In college division, the top players were Marie Chin of CJC of Digos City and Clark Kent Anabieza of Jose Maria College (JMC).
The rest of the special awardees were Crista Mae Gallego (female), Gerald Cavan of Tadeco (top employee), Atty. Jong Guevarra of Guevarra Law Firm (top executive) and Henry Babista (top senior) FA Ralph Caluya and FA Edmon Prado of the Department of Education Manila office aasisted in the officiating and monitoring of the tournament.