CEBU CITY -- Nakamit ni Grandmaster John Paul Gomez ng Albay Province ang top honor sa 2018 Philippine National Games (PNG) Chess Championships, Standard Open Competition nitong Miyerkoles sa Robinson Galleria Cebu.
Ang top-ranked Gomez na may ELO rating 2461 at suportado ang kanyang kampanya ni Albay Gov. Al Francis C. Bichara ay nakakolekta ng anim na puntos mula sa limang panalo at dalawang tabla.
Naitala ni Gomez ang importanteng panalo kontra kina Anthony Mosqueda ng Davao City sa first round, National Master Noel dela Cruz sa second round, National Master Edsel Montoya ng Cebu City sa fourth round, National Master John Merill Jacutina ng Quezon City sa fifth round at International Master Paulo Bersamina sa sixth round.
Tabla naman siya kina Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales ng Albay Province sa third round at Grandmaster Darwin Laylo ng Marikina City sa seventh at final round.
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Dahil sa panalo, si Gomez, pambato ng De La Salle University (DLSU) chess team, ang nagkampeon sa torneo kasunod sina International Master Paulo Bersamina ng Tandag City at Grandmaster Darwin Laylo ng Marikina City na kapwa may 5.5 puntos.
Sa distaff side, nakihati ng puntos si Woman International Master Catherine Perena-Secopito ng Bulacan kay Woman Fide Master Michelle Yaon ng Santa Rosa City, Laguna tungo sa 6.0 points at pag-uwi ng gold medal.
Giniba naman ni top seed Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna ng Albay Province si dating Asian Junior champion Woman International Master Mikee Charlene Suede ng Makati City tungo sa silver medal.
Si Frayna nalasap ang stinging defeat sa kamay ni Secopito sa sixth at penultimate round ay nakaipon ng 5.5 points, kaparehas ng iskor na naitala nina third place Woman International Master Marie Antoinette San Diego ng Dasmarinas City at fourth place Woman International Master Bernadette Galas ng Makati City.
Mismong sina Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey, National Chess Federation of the Philippines executive director Red Dumuk, National Chess Federation of the Philippines director Martin “Binky” Gaticales, International Arbiter Ilann Perez at International Arbiter Wilfredo Neri at Fide arbiters Felix Poloyapoy, Marvin Ruelan, Carlos Florendo at Odilon Badiles nanguna sa closing rites kasama sina Fide National Arbiter elect Edilberto and Jerel John Velarde, National Arbiters Mark John Gastar, Noel Morales at Margie Narcilla.
