Casagan, Flores share limelight in CEPCA monthly tourney

CEBU, Philippines -  Freddie Casagan and Rey Flores were declared as double champion in the August edition of the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (CEPCA) Monthly Tournament at the Deep Blue Cafe in SM City-Cebu.

The tournament committee headed by Jun Olis made such decision after Casagan and Flores both finished the 5-round Swiss system competition with 4.5 points.

Casagan, a new member of Cebu's longest existing chess organization, is a registered nurse who is currently an instructor at the University of the Visayas (UV). He won his first three matches against Richard Gohetia, Mike Banibane, and Felix Balbona, battled to a draw with Flores in round four, then beat Marvie Abucay in the fifth round.

On the other hand, Flores, last year's grand champion, triumped over Jun Pasion, Jonathan Canque, Manny Manzanares, and Andrew Balbona. A nautical engineer and a retired boat skipper, Flores now teaches the rudiments of this famous European boardgame to the young ones.

Manzanares and Peterson Sia were at joint third and fourth place, while Antonio Barade took the fifth spot.

Casagan and Flores, thus, joined early qualifiers Atty. Jong Melendez, NM Arnold Cadiz, Percival Fiel, Maggi Dionson, Manuel Abucay, Jun Kidlat, and Peterson Sia to the grand finals set this December. The remaining three slots for the "Magic 12" are still up for grabs in the next three months.

A total of 24 players took part in the August tilt including four aspiring CEPCA kids in Andrew Balbona, John Francis Balbona, and Marvie Abucay with 3.0 points each and John Jerish Velarde with 2.5 points.— EBV (FREEMAN)