CEBU, Philippines- He isn't the top-ranked player for nothing.
Rommel Ganzon proved this after he gamely bounced back from a sixth round debacle on the way to clinch the championship of the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (CEPCA) Silver Anniversary Open Tournament over the weekend at SM City-Cebu.
After losing to Edcel Montoya in round six, Ganzon came back strong to sweep his final three games capped by a rousing victory over collegiate standout Ramil Wadim of the University of San Jose-Recoletos.
Ganzon actually finished the 9-round Swiss system competition with 8.0 points in a tie with Felix Shaun Balbona, but he went on to claim the champion's trophy by virtue of a superior tie-break output applying the Bucholz system.
Aside from the P10,000 cash prize, Ganzon also took home a digital chess clock courtesy of longtime chess patron Boojie Lim.
Balbona, who stunned Mario Magubat in the final round, got P7,000 and a digital chess clock donated by lawyer Raymond Garcia for placing second, while Montoya wound up at solo third with 7.5 points.
Montoya received P5,000 for his effort, while FIDE Master Anthony Makinano and Mangubat pocketed P3,000 and P2,000 for occupying the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.
Also finishing with 7.0 points each to complete the top nine were NM Arnold Cadiz, Bryle Arellano, Jimmy Ty, Jr., and Voltaire Sevillano.
Wadim and Fernandito Pialan were at joint 10th and 11th with 6.5 points, while making it to the top 20 list with 6.0 points apiece were Marc Balbona, Ronald Ganzon, Jeremy Pepito, Santiago Peque, Aldwin Daculan, Ross Yamyamin, Richard Natividad, Crisanto Tan, Jr. and Erwin Ababat.
Charry Jacobs, KC Morala, and Belinda Baguio received special prizes for emerging as the top three female players. The same goes to Arnold Cadiz, Jimmy Ty, Jr. and Ross Yamyamin among Cepcans A and Gabby Misterio, Mario Bustillo and Romy Pialan for Cepcans B.
On the other hand, Jerish Velarde and Jun Kidlat came out as the top kiddie and senior players.
The CEPCA officials led by their president Engr. Jerry Maratas were in full force to award the cash prizes and trophies to all the winners of the two-day tilt co-presented by Jemar Engineering Services, Celjem Construction and Development Corporation and Handuraw Pizza in association with Primeparts Fabricators and Development Corp. and San Narciso Builders Corporation. The trophies were donated by Kelly Uy and Andrew Aznar. (FREEMAN)