JEDDAH, 13 June 2003 — Gerry Calixto emerged as the sole leader with a perfect score of 14 points after the seventh round in the 9th Series of Al-Faf Round-Robin league to Stepladder final. Trailling behind Calixto with 13 points apiece are Dr. Motaz El-Fadil and Willy Sabungan.
Standing of other players: 4. Gary Abadines (12 points), 5. Jimmy De Leon (11 points), 6. Benjie Roxas (10 points with 2 pending games), 7. Baby Joseph & Amin Khan (9 points), 8. Rolly Cornejo (8 points), 9. Oscar Calicdan (8 points), 10. Raul Mayo (7 points), 11. Anselmo Seidel (7 points), 12. Raul Ilagan (6 points with 1 pending game), 13. Marvin Franco (6 points), 14. Ahmed Khatooa (5 points 1 pending game), 15. Irshad Hussain (4 points), 16. Russel Sayat (4 points), 17. Bernie Tabelisma (1 points with 3 pending games), 18. Rene Magbag (0.0 with 4 pending games).
Players who will skip the Phase One or the Series 9 round-robin phase to be charted in the struggle bracket of the Stepladder Knockout final are: Najib Uddin, Bong Baluyot, Gil Buensuceso and Rod “Pogi” Manansala.
The 9th Series of Al-Faf hotel chess tournament is an ongoing Community Chess Club project. Phase one is positioning system that allows players to move down the ladder by defeating opponents whom they challenge. The Stepladder Knockout final however, is a formal event.
