Makinano grabs Rose chess title

Anthony Makinano lived up to his status as one of Cebu's hottest chess players today as he bagged the championship of the Rose Pharmacy-Pyro Works Open Chess Tournament billed as "Kay Sarap Magmahal" over the weekend at SM City-Cebu.

Makinano, who is fresh from a third place finish in the Bangkok Chess Club Open Tournament in Thailand, fought to a draw with Francisco Abugho in the final round, but that was all he needed to claim the top prize of P3,000.

The former Palarong Pambansa champion finished the seven-round Swiss system event with 6.5 points.

Carlos Moreno III, Abugho and Jhonel Balquin figured in a three-way tie with 6.0 points apiece, but the two-time Mandaue Open champion Moreno copped the second place honors thanks to a suprior tie-break output of 30.5 points using the Bucholz system.

Abugho finished third with 27.5 tie-break points and Balquin fourth with 27.0 points.

Moreno capped his campaign by beating NM Arnold Cadiz, while Balquin downed Marcelo Ruelan, Sr. Memorial Chess Tournament champion Eden Diano.

Rounding up the top 12 finishers in the two-day tilt were Antonio Cabibil, Richard Natividad, Rodrigo Alejandre, Rey Flores, Jason Bermudo, Joel Pacuribot, Cadiz, and Carlo Mara-at.

Felix Shaun Balbona and Wenonah Tagsip received special awards for emerging as the top players in the kiddies and ladies divisions, respectively, with 4.0 points apiece.