Team Balbona rules PICPA chess

CEBU, Philippines – Team Balbona lost to the Gypsy squad in its final assignment, but still came out as champion of the 3rd Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants -Cebu Chapter Sinulog Open Chess Tournament yesterday at the Deep Blue 'd Woodpushers Chess Club in SM City-Cebu.

Powered by Cebuano chess prodigy Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano, Carlos Moreno III,  Felix Balbona, and his son Felix Shaun, Team Balbona was actually tied with HLO-DPWH of Rommel Ganzon, Alan Salientes, Joey Ardiente, and Tony Cabibil with 13.0 points each, but took home the champion's trophy by virtue of winner-over-the-other rule.

The Chess Masters of NM Merben Roque, Richard Natividad, Michael Pagaran, and Carlo Maraat and Team Gypsy of FIDE Master Anthony Makinano, Voltaire Sevillano, Ronald Ganzon, and Vincent Balena finished the 9-round Swiss system competition with 11.0 points, but the Chess Masters grabbed the third place honors also by a simple tie.

For their efforts, Team Balbona pocketed P12,000, while the HLO-DPWH and Team Gypsy received P8,000 and P6,000, respectively.

The board medallists who got P1,000 apiece were Edcel Montoya, Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano, Felix Shaun Balbona, Rafael Perez, and Vincent Balena.

The two-day tilt was 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)