National Master Merben Roque of Cebu emerges champion in the 2014 Tawo-Tawo Chess Festival held at the gymnasium and the Integrated Business Center, Bayawan City on March 1-2, 2014. The former Buglasan champion actually tied with Bacolod’s Vito Tapulgo, fellow Cebu bets Edsel Montoya and Michael Pagaran with six points but won the title and the P 10,000.00 top purse with a superior tie-break score. Tapulgo settled for second and the P 7,000.00 prize, Montoya at third place with P 5,000.00 prize while Pagaran dropped to fourth spot with P 3,000.00. Another Cebuano, top-seeded Eden Diano was at fifth spot and Bacolod’s Gary Baltar at sixth place, both with identical 5.5 points. Rounding out the Top 10 consolation prizes were five pointers Silliman varsity coach Rudell Siglos, defending champion Junaico Segismar, Governor’s Cup champion Engr. Arnold Somoza and NORSU’s Adrian dela Cruz.
Special Awards went to Siaton’s Jose Hudierrez as Top Senior, SPUD’s Sara Francine Olendo as Top Woman, dela Cruz as Top Junior, Paulinian grader Alfonzo Louis Olendo as Top Kiddie and eight-year old Justin Barron as the Promising Bayawanon awardee. The Top Male Bayawanon award went to Samuel Quindo and Top Female Bayawanon award won by Cherry Mae Lagondi, also a Silliman varsity member.
Seventy six chess players led by two National Masters participated in this open tournament with top players from host Bayawan, Dumaguete, Tanjay, Bais, Cebu, Toledo, Kabankalan, Bacolod, Siquijor, Guihulngan and other municipalities in the province vying for the top honors. Top varsity players from USC, Silliman, NORSU and regional players from SPUD, RTPM Science HS, NOHS and Cebu province were also present.
Organized by the City of Bayawan LGU with its Hon. Mayor German Sarana and thru the efforts of City Admin. Officer Jude Cabangal in partnership with UniOil c/o Rico Gonzales and Negros Club 64 with its president Ret. Capt. Hilbert Arinaza. Management Committee was headed by tournament director Benjor Benjamin and chief arbiter Florendo Zamora of NOSDEP. Uymatiao Construction sponsored the specially designed chess medals. (Florendo Zamora)
