FRITZ Lawrence Yosores and local chess legend Remejio Tejo ran away with the titles in the students and residents’ division of the 1st Mayor Inocentes Cabaron Chess Festival at the Moalboal Covered Court on Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 7, 2023.
Yosores, a student of Nuevo Technological School of Humanities, swept all seven matches to finish with a perfect seven points in the event managed by the Cebu Chess Hub of Mark Mangubat and held in time for the town’s annual fiesta celebration.
Yosores defeated Kian Garces, Roy Cabasag, Don Godfrey Delgado, Denver Curachea, Franklin Allegado, John Tulabing and Sherwin Pugales to earn first place and P5,000.
Bhrotsuen Ryan Gerardino got second place and P4,000 with 6.0 points, while Sasmantah Dingcong finished third and earned P3,000. John Reynon Tulabing and Sherwin Pugales got the fourth and fifth spots, and settled for P2,000 and P1,000, respectively.
Meanwhile, those who made the top 10 — Rihanna May Dingcong (sixth), Francisca Vito (seventh), Delgado (eighth), Allegado (ninth) and Curachea (10th) —got P500 each.
“Moalboal has always had a rich history when it comes to chess. We had NM Asing Badilles, the country’s first national master who helped train GM Eugene Torre. We are hoping this tournament will help spur the interest for chess among the students,” said Mayor Cabaron.
Meanwhile, Tejo defeated Eric Dionaldo, Vivencio Delgado, Beltran Gabales, Raymond Mendoza, Jovannie Recarte and Rogelo Alcoser before settling to a draw with Larry Gako in the final round to top the residents’ division with 6.5 points.
Tejo got P10,000 for topping the event, while Recarte settled for second and the P8,000 cash prize. Gako finished third and got P6,000, while Alcoser and Vivencio got the fourth and fifth places and earned P4,000 and P2,000, respectively. Those who made the top 10 — Mendoza, Ricarte Gamao, Jaymark Flores, Lwelyn Dingcong and Beltran Gabales got P500 each.
The chess festival, which also included a 20-board simul exhibit with international master Rico Mascarinas and a seminar for teachers, is part of Mayor Cabaron’s push to boost chess in the town, especially in the schools. The mayor also distributed two chess sets and a clock to each of the 19 public schools in the town. (MTL)