Emperado rules grand reunion chessfest

MANILA, Philippines — Top seed National Master (NM) Emmanuel Emperado lived up to his  own expectation as he ruled the Metropolitan Chess Club (MCC) Grand Reunion Standard Open Chess Tournament that concluded over the weekend at the Starmall EDSA Shaw in Mandaluyong City.

Emperado, with the highest NCFP rating 2207, finished with six wins and a draw against fellow NM Efren Bagamasbad to post 6.5 points in this seven-round Swiss event sanctioned by the NCFP and organized by MCC in cooperation with Milo. Emperado brought home the champion trophy plus the gold medal and P4,000 top prize.

The draw led Bagamasbad into a tie for second to third places along with USCF Master Jose Aquino Jr. with 5.5 points each. However, due to a better tie break, Bagamasbad grabbed second place and received P2,500 plus a silver medal. Aquino received P1,500 and the bronze medal.

Rounding out the top 10 winners who received P500 each plus bronze medals were John Kenneth Gelua (4th); Leonito Raul Villate (5th); Clark Kaeron Kwan (6th); Lorenzo Cochanco (7th); Arnel Ellis (8th); Joel Ambas (9th); and Alwin Sopungco (10th). Finishers from 11th-20th who were awarded bronze medal each were Venz Dwight Kwan (11th); Jose Layones II (12th); Bejie Paulo Aclao (13th); Christopher Jed Dayo (14th); Leo Aldrin Caraig (15th); Andrew Sopungco (16th); Ivan Gelua (17th); Roville Viatrice Ceron (18th); Alexander Gelua (19th); and Kezia Ligutan (20).

Category top performers who received P750 each plus trophy and gold medal were Alwin Sopungco (55-46); Mady Anonuevo (45-36); Burlington Tiu (35-20); David Joshua Orense (19-15); Karlycris Clarito Jr. (14-11) and Julie Gelua Jr. (Top 10-under).