Top seed National Master Tyan Trajera found himself on the right track again to top the July Edition: Monthly Blitz Chess Championship after failing badly in the Mario Dolar Blitz Chess where he scored a measly 50 percent.
Trajera conceded only one draw against the 1st runner-up in this six-round Swiss system 25-man field tournament to gather a total of 5.5 points, after tallying an undefeated score card of five wins and one draw, pushing his rating to 2146 after gaining +25 points in this event.
Just half a point behind is St. Paul University senior high school student Vincent Balena, who finished the tournament with an unblemished record with four wins and two draws. Balena is also the tournament’s highest rating-gainer as he added +68 rating points to his belt to improve his previous rating of 1904 to 1972 (local Club rating.)
Veteran campaigners Bobby Torres (2098) and Engr. Arnold Somoza (2053) tied in 3rd and 4th spots with 4.5 points each, gaining for themselves +5 & +9 rating points respectively, making Torres the fourth player to break the 2100 rating in the Province with his current 2103.
Edgar Conjuico (2044), Gemon Tolentino (2005) and Romualdo Catequista (1916) occupied the 5th to 7th spots with identical 4.5 points. This month’s qualifiers to the year-end grand finals are Balena and Conjuico.
This series of Monthly Blitz Tournaments is regularly sponsored by Dumaguete City Vice-Mayor Alan Gel Cordova, Atty. Cyrus Riconalla, Atty. Alfredo Orquillas Jr., Atty. Jason Bandal, and Sibulan Councilor Atty. Mark Banquerigo.
The Top 7 placers receive a total of P2,000 in cash. (PR)