Roque, Sevillano top 2nd Strike chessfest

CEBU, Philippines - NM Merben Roque and Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano stole the show in the Four Central Squares 2nd Strike Open Chess Tournament over the weekend at Robinson's Place.

Roque fought to a draw with NM Leonardo Alidani in the seventh and final round but that was all he needed to rule the open category with a perfect 6.5 points after the 7-round Swiss system competition.

Alidani and Rogelio Enriquez, Jr. both ended their campaigns with 6.0 points, but Alidani took the second place honors courtesy of a superior tie-break output.

Christian Yves Fiel, Rommel Ganzon and Diego Abraham Claro were are joint fourth to sixth spots with 5.5 points each.

Rounding up the top 10 finishers with 5.0 points apiece were Richard Natividad, Edcel Montoya, Bryle Arellano and Rosendo Yamyamin.

Sevillano, on the other hand, settled for a draw with fellow Cebuano prodigy Chris Aldritz Pondoyo in the final round but it did not matter as he still emerged as champion in the kiddies division with 6.5 points.

Pondoyo, James Andrew Balbona and Ryan Pacres were in a three-way tie with 5.5 points, but Balbona took the second place honors courtesy of a higher tie-breaker. Pondoya was third followed by Pacres.

Completing the top 10 cast with 5.0 points each were Edzel Vosotros, Adrian Basil Basilgo, Vic Glysen Derotas, Jeffu Dorog, John Arvert Cadiz, and Krizal Joseph Gutang.— EBV (FREEMAN)