PALARO players Romeo Canino and David Rey Ancheta lived up to expectation, lording it over in the Barangay 29 Iwas Droga Summer Chess Tournament, which ended on Sunday, May 21, at Barangay 29 fall in Cagayan de Oro City.
Whoever stood their way the two experienced wood-pushers unleashed their might in the Las Vegas knockout-like tourney that drew a total of 128 participants.
The 17-year-old Canino of Liceo de Cagayan University, who bagged a gold in this year’s National Prisaa in Zambales, dominated the 17-under category. He bested fellow Palaro veteran Adrian Othniel Yulo of Xavier University, 1.5-0.5, in the finals.
Before facing Yulo, Canino outplayed Christian Aquino and 2016 Shell National Youth Active Chess Cagayan de Oro leg champion Euniel Capilitan in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.
To his consolation, Yulo took the measure of Christine delos Reyes of Little Me Academy and the younger Ronald Canino of Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School in the later rounds to grab the second place.
In the 13-under category, Ancheta of Corpus Christi nailed the title at the expense of incoming Corpus Christi rookie Loribina Carrasco II, 1.5-0.5.
Ancheta swept past Diether Jumawan and Paul Andrew Romanda on his way to the finals.
The second-running Carrasco, meanwhile, bested Aaron Dacut and Canino’s youngest sister, Ruelle, to reach the finals.
Canino and Ancheta received P5,000 each, while Yulo and Carrasco settled for the runner-up prize worth P3,000.
“It’s been a long time already but now pa lang gyod namo nadiskobrehan ni pareng Jun (arbiter Lorenzo Cuizon) nga aduna pay lain nga village chief sa siyudad nga mahigugmaon sa dulang chess,” said the 60-something National Master Roger Verganio, referring to Baranagay 29 chair Apolinar Bonete, who convinced his council to bankroll the first ever chess competition to unfold in their barangay.