Stay at home chess challenge: IM Pimentel is grand champ

CEBU, Philippines —  Bacolod City’s International Master Joel Pimentel emerged as grand champion of the Stay at Home Chess Challenge, a monthly online tournament organized by the Cebu School of Cebu in partnership with Chess Infinitum, Inc. to keep players active and in highly competitive action since the sports lockdown in March due to the global pandemic.

During last Saturday’s “Finale” played on lichess.org, the 27-year-old Pimentel finished the 9-round Swiss system competition with the highest output of 7.5 points to clinch the title and the P7,000 top prize.

Cebuano National Master Merben Roque pocketed P5,000 for finishing second with 7.0 points.

Manila’s Sherwin Tiu wound up third with 6.5 points while IM Oliver Dimakiling of Bohol  came out fourth with 6.0 points.

IM Barlo Nadera and NM Rommel Ganzon, both of Cebu, took the fifth and sixth spots with 5.0 points while Kyle Sevillano and FIDE Master Mari Joseph Turqueza placed seventh and eight with 4.5 points each.

FM Alekhine Nouri and John Dave Lavandero were are ninth and 10th with 3.5 points while Kevin Codinera and Crizelda Cruz completed the top 12 finishers.