Team Balbona seizes lead in PICPA chessfest

CEBU, Philippines – Team Balbona subdued erstwhile pace-setter Team Bacalso to grab the solo lead after seven rounds of action in the 3rd Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA)-Cebu Chapter Sinulog Open Chess Tournament yesterday at the Deep Blue 'd Woodpushers Chess Club in SM City-Cebu.

Bannered by Cebuano chess prodigy Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano, Carlos Moreno III,  Felix Balbona, and his son Felix Shaun, Team Balbona scalped Team Bacalso manned by Edcel Montoya, Bonn Tibod, Bryle Arellano and Jimmy Bacalso, 3.5-.5 to move on top of the heap with 11.0 points going into the last two rounds of this 9-round Swiss system competition.

The Chess Masters of NM Merben Roque, Richard Natividad, Michael Pagaran, and Carlo Maraat and the HLO-DPWH manned by of Rommel Ganzon, Alan Salientes, Joey Ardiente, and Tony Cabibil are currently tied at second place with 9.0 points each.

The Chess Masters pulled off a 4-0 whitewash of Team Ahedrez composed of Alfer Fernandez, Bryan Daniel, Lemuel Montero, and Richard Albino, while HLO-DPWH scored a similar 4-0 drubbing of LTDO-BIR comprised of NM Leonardo Alidani, Jerish Velarde, and Peterson Sia.

Team Bacalso slipped to third place with 8.0 points, while the Bureau of Internal Revenue  anchored by NM Arnold Cadiz, Christian Yves Fiel, Vicmil Pepito, and Ivan Quijano is at solo fourth spot with 5.0 points, thanks to its 3-1 victory over dethroned champion Casa Ilongga manned by  International Master Kim Yap, Rogelio Enriquez, Joel Pacuribot, and Rodrigo Ababat.

The champion will receive P12,000, while the second and third placers will pocket P8,000 and P6,000, respectively. The fourth will take home P4,000, while the top board players will get P1,000 apiece.

The two-day event is organized by PICPA-Cebu Chapter through its president Ipher Tabañag. The games are supervised by tournament director Rodrigo Ababat and FIDE Arbiter Marvin Y. Ruelan.— EBV (FREEMAN)