NATIONAL Master Rustum Tolentino became the first winner of the Kings and Pawns’ Battle of Champions Rapid chess tournament concluded here recently at the Lifestyle District’s Budgetel Hotel along Corrales extension.
Tolentino actually finished in a tie with fellow NM and former mentor Levi Mercado at 4 points, but prevailed in the Bucholz tiebreak to notch the title.
It was a dramatic win by Tolentino, who apparently stumbled in the early part of the elimination phase, but managed to qualify after ruling the last stage of the Battle of Champions’ weekly elimination games.
“Just believe in yourself and all that you are. You know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle,” Tolentino, in victory, paraphrased Christian D. Larson’s classic remarks.
Fresh from an eight-place finish in the 2nd Manny Pacquiao Random Chess individual competition which saw him winning big time against the top-seeded Grandmaster Darwin Laylo, the ageless Mercado settled for the runner-up prize.
“Medyo ma-inspired si Baby (Mercado) og balik ani sa chess kay naka-recover siya sa mga latest events,” said NM Roly Tan, who runs Goldcrest Marketing and a long-time supporter of local chess development.
Nazario Ubanan emerged solo in the third place with 4 points, while Lyndon Lumancas and Silverio Abasolo occupied fourth and fifth with identical 3.5 markers.
Class B standout Rodney Opada, the early tormentor of Tolentino, and Eutemio Coquilla—best remembered for his best performance on board 3 (7.5/9) in the Pacman Random team championships—landed at sixth and seventh places with similar 3 points.
Bunched at 2.5 points were Jokorn Maestrado, Paciano Gulle, Esmar Estrella and Basilio Pandan.
Meanwhile, Karl Francis Honculada of Xavier University High School scored 4.5 points in five rounds to lord it over in Youth division of the Kings and Pawns tourney.
Ronald Canino of Little Me Academy checked in second place with 4 points, followed by Rafael Calingin at third spot with 3.5 points to show.