RIYADH: Former MPCC triple champ and NCFP candidate Master Eduard D. Sumergido easily beat Emerson Vicencio in a Caro-Kann defense variation in the 7th and final round of 2009 Eid Al-Adha Chess Open tourney which was held recently to regain back the prestigious championship crown.
He was in superb form during the entire tournament annihilating all the adversaries thrown at him to obtain perfect 7 points in a 7-round Swiss-System format.
Joseph Mendoza, 1st runner up awardee of the 1st MPCC open displayed a remarkable and amazing mastery of the end game in the final round to seal a thrilling win over former Manila Plaza summer festival champion Gardy Sorita in an Elephant gambit variation. With great pride, he took the second place trophy and cash prize.
At the MPCC Open blitz tournament, Mendoza dazzled once more, displaying his agility and precise moves to trounce an array of opponents in many pulsating games. He took the championship trophy and the alluring tag of a blitz king.
A neophyte at the club, Alex Afable valiantly defended his black pieces in a Queen’s Indian defense variation against Johnny Cuadra to extract a full point in the 7th round.
A member of Antipolo Chess Club, he had showed why he is a revered newcomer when he beat reigning 4th MPCC champion Anatoly Guniezo in earlier round. He took the 3rd place honor and trophy with cash prize in open category. Rene Agra of Jeddah Chess Club clobbered Ryan Alcantara of Al-Khobar Chess Club in a bird’s opening variation to take the 4th place. Simultaneously, he also won the 1st runner up trophy in 4 minutes blitz tournament.
Aldrin Gallardo’s loss to Rudy Ladan of Al Hasa Chess Club in Queen’s gambit decline variation in the final round nevertheless, managed to garner a total 4.5 points to take 5th place.
In Class B, Emerson Vicencio emerged champion after accumulating a total of 4.5 points. He prevailed over other 4 players with the same identical scores via Swiss Median-buchols tiebreak system.
Ben Mercado capitalized on a poor opening of Richard Matibag in a Queen’s pawn opening variation to wrap up the much needed win in the final round to take the 2nd place trophy and cash prize and join he MPCC greats.
MPCC President Emmanuel Gatpatan handed his protagonist Patrick Ramirez, a Taif based NCFP rated player and top ranked, his worst and embarrassing loss in a Sicilian Schiveningen variation. He got the 3rd place trophy and pocketed the cash prize. Undaunted by the extreme pressure at the MPCC blitz tournament, he handily won his last assignment to take 2nd runner up award.
Augusto Sbo and Johnny Cuadra notched up a 1-0 win over their respective opponents in the penultimate round to amass a total of identical 4 points to win the 4th and 5th places respectively.
Martin Canero was in impressive form on that last day of the tournament. He romped to a 1-0 thrilling victory over Sherwin Narag in a Caro-Kanndefense variation to cling and grab the last seat of Class B achievers, the 6th place trophy.
Freshman Rudy Ladan of Al-Hasa Chess club actually bagged the 3rd place in the overall category with his aggregate 5 points but elected to take the place of Class C champion. He had achieved a remarkable feat being a conqueror of former overall champion Anatoly Guniezo who eventually backed out of the contest after the bitter loss.
Adolfo Soliman was entirely a revelation. Round after round, he was consistently on the leader board. He advanced to the finals by eliminating Romeo Mangalindan in Queen’s gambit decline variation. He triumphantly took the 2nd place trophy.
Manila Plaza was the venue and NCFP Master Santos Cabaltera was the chief arbiter, committee chairman was Emmanuel O. Adriatico.
