GM Gomez nets P100T for ruling Cebu City chess

CEBU, Philippines - GM John Paul Gomez pulled off one big surprise as he prevailed over a strong field of opposition to clinch the inaugural championship of the cash-rich 1st Cebu City Charter Day Open Chess Championships yesterday at the E- Mall Activity Center.

With the country's top chess player GM Wesley So around, the fourth-ranked Gomez did not expect to dominate what is by far the biggest and richest chess event in the region that attracted close to 300 entries.

“I was not expecting but I felt na may chance kaso lang kasali kasi si Wesley, so parang in doubt talaga ako. Malayo na kasi ang level niya sa ibang Grandmasters at siya talaga ang laging champion sa mga sinasalihan naming mga competitions. Mahirap yong competition bawat round lalong humihirap. This is an unexpected victory for me,” said Gomez.

For his feat, the 24-year-old native of Laguna pocketed P100,000.

Gomez, who strolled past NM Reggie Olay, IM Oliver Dimakiling and IM Chito Garma before settling for a draw with So and IM Ronald Dableo in the final round, actually was tied with So after the nine-round Swiss system competition with 8.0 points each.

But Gomez claimed the top honors by virture of a superior tie-break points of 58 applying the Bucholz system. The 17-year-old So got only 54.5 points, but still go home P50,000 richer.IM Chito Garma, GM Darwin Laylo, IM Ronald Dableo (53 bh) and IM Richard Bitoon (52 bh) finished with identical 7.5 points, but Garma snatched the P30,000 prize courtesy of a higher tie-breaker. Laylo came out fourth followed by Dableo and Bitoon.

The seventh to 16th finishers were NM Reggie Olay, Jayson Salubre, FM Anthony Makinano, NM Rodrigo Atotubo, NM Joel Fernan, FM Sander Severino, NM Rhobel Legaspi, Redentor Nailon and Voltaire Sevillano.

Organized by Rose Pharmacy Chess Club, the highy-successful event that attracted the cream of the crop in Philippine chess was made possible through the support of the city government of Cebu under the leadership of Mayor Mike Rama course through the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) under Edward Hayco and the City Council's committee on games and amusements headed by Councilor Raul "Yayoy" D. Alcoseba.   (FREEMAN NEWS)