The 1st Inter-Generation Chess Grand Finals held at the Bethel Guest House crowned the 36-50 Team as champions. The 8-board champion team members are National Master Rolzon Roullo, category qualifying champion Jason Mongcopa, Tanjay’s handicapped chess wizard Jeffrey Alcantara, former Silliman captain and coach Adji Alamillo, Bais City’s chess mentor Ralph Dairit, veteran campaigner Danilo Rubio, the come-backing Nilo Sayre and Provincial Capitol Officer Hector Agustin. The champion team received the P 10,000.00 prize, individual medals, certificates and the team trophy.
Claiming second spot are the veterans of the 51&Above Team headed by Prof. Cesar Ruiz-Aquino, Governor’s Cup champion Engr. Arnold Somoza, former Buglasan champion Benjor Benjamin and former Centennial title-holder Nestor Teofilo. Other members are DEPED’s Melchor Cabrera, Bais City’s Edmund Gaitan, Bayawan’s Cromwell Aninon and the club-based Andy Yap.
The 21-35 Team finished at third place and could have gone higher if not for the withdrawal of former National PRISAA medalist Atty. Jason Bandal. Though, the team still paraded qualifying champion Zean Zack Yarag of NORSU, Silliman top board John Vandam Gutib, Zamboanguita’s Juno Davad, Tanjay’s Reggie Reginaldo, AMA Computer’s Kirby Pinero, the promising Bernstein Eleo and SPUD coaches Arnel Sapuan and Avelio Gasiong.
The 21&Under Team dropped to fourth spot over-all despite playing with a complete line-up led by NORSU’s Adrian dela Cruz, the category qualifying topnotcher and CVIRAA players Patrick Chua, Tyronne Diputado, John Daniel Arsenal and Alfonzo Louis Olendo. The Women team finished last but partly because of the absence of two SU varsity members and the last-minute withdrawal of former national junior stand-out Engr. Evelyn Enojo. The team, though, still has in its fold former Palarong Pambansa placer Ediza Aninon, the come-backing Florence Doit and qualifying champion Sara Francine Olendo of SPUD.
Board champion awards went to NM Roullo (Board 1), Mongcopa (Board 2), Prof. Aquino (Board 3), Alcantara (Board 4), Benjamin (Board 5), Sara Olendo (Board 6), Sayre (Board 7) and Cabrera (Board 8).
Organized by the Negros Club 64 headed by its president, Ret. Capt. Hilbert Arinaza. with NOSDEP’s chess program coordinator Florendo Zamora acting as Tournament Director and Chief Arbiter Bobby Torres. Major sponsors are: MetroPost Newspaper, Bethel Guest House, Uymatiao Construction, Caballes Press, Atong Botica, and Sidlakang Negros. (Florendo Zamora)
