PINATUNAYAN ni Bob Jones Liwagon na isa siya sa Philippines’ top executive chess players matapos magkampeon sa 2018 Alphaland National Executive Chess Championships Grand Finals, Rapid chess competition kamakailan sa Alphaland Makati Place.
Inorganisa ng Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA), nanguna si Liwagon na tubong Cotabato City, nang gapiin si Narquingel Reyes ng Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal para maibulsa ang top prize P50,000 plus outright “Rapid” National Master title ayon kay Chess Arbiter Union of the Philippines (CAUP) president Red Dumuk na siya ding executive director ng National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
“First of all I would like to thank God for winning this prestigious tournament. My family, relative, officemate and friends, who is always beside me,”sambit ng 35-anyos na dating top player ng University of Santo Tomas sa college.
Binati naman ni Mindanao chess leader at Philippine Sports Association for Differently Abled President James Infiesto si Liwagon. “He deserves this... I’m really happy for him.”
Bago magtungo sa finals ay kinakailangan munang talunin ni Liwagon si Norman Jasper Montejo ng Catbalogan, Samar sa semi-final matches habang nakaungos naman si Reyes kay Eduard Sumergido ng Basilan sa isa pang final four match-up.
Samantala, dinaig ni Montejo si Sumergido sa battle for 3rd at 4th placers. Naibulsa ni Reyes ang P30,000, nakamit ni Montejo ang P20,000 at naiuwi ni Sumergido ang P10,000.