Carzano rules CEPCA non-masters chessfest

CEBU, Philippines - Johnny Carzano settled for a draw with Christian Pondoyo in the final round but that was all he needed to secure the title of the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (CEPCA) Non-Masters Tournament over the weekend at the Knight Attack Chess Cafe in Robinsons Galleria Cebu.

Carzano completed the 7-round Swiss system competition with the highest output of 6.5 points to take home the P3,000 champion's purse.

Lemuel Montero and Lester Belano both hurdled their last round assignments against Lumbab Armecito and Christy Cabungcag, respectively, to end their bids with identical 6.0 points.

Montero, however, pocketed the P2,000 second prize by virtue of a higher tiebreaker applying the Bucholz system. Belano got P1,000 for his effort.

Occupying the fourth to sixth spots with 5.5 points each were Joe Atillo, Christian Pondoyo and Franklin Caylan while rounding up the top 15 with 5.0 points apiece were Lumbab Armecito, Richard Gohetia Sr., Alex Bayubay, Zilberstein Torres, Christy Cabungcag, Sherwin Amad, Vicmil Pepito, Michael Lamb and former two-time CEPCA president Manny Manzanares.

Lamb, an American national, is the first ever foreign player to have joined in a CEPCA tournament. (FREEMAN)