Pilarta, Samantilla top Ateneo chess

MANILA, Philippines - Wilbert Pilarta and Darly Samantilla pulled off tough victories in the final round then nipped Loren Laceste and Jose Carlo Castro in the tiebreak to capture the high school and grade school crowns, respectively, in the third Dr. Jose Leviste Sr. Inter-School Chess Festival at the Ateneo Grade School Cafeteria last week.

Pilarta, playing out of Marist School, won with the black pieces over Jesse Abucejo, essaying the victory after 46 moves of the Queen’s Gambit-Declined to finish the nine-round Swiss system active chess tournament with six points.

The event is sponsored by Adidas Phils. and Pidiong Cruz in cooperation with the Ateneo University Athletics Office and backed by Enerasia Renewables Corp., Fonemed Asia Pacific, Italpinas Design and Development and Grand Placement.

Laceste, from Letran, also prevailed with the black, beating Gabriel Layugan in 48 moves of another Queen’s Gambit-Declined to tie Pilarta with six points but the latter took the title worth P5,000 with a superior tiebreak score.

Laceste settled for runner-up honors worth P3,000 while Paolo Cristobal of San Sebastian College and Ali Guya of Adamson placed third and fourth, respectively. with 5.5 points in the tournament put up by the Ateneo grade school, high school and collegiate chess teams under IM Idelfonso Datu.

Samantilla, of Adamson, beat Edric Manahan in 47 moves of a London game to finish with six points, then edged Castro in the tiebreak to clinch the grade school plum and the top P5,000 purse.