NATIONAL MASTER (NM) Merben Roque emerged champion in the 1st Mayor Ramon Duterte Durano III Open Chess Tournament last weekend in Danao City, north Cebu.
The top-seeded Roque finished with 8.0 points, together with Rommel Ganzon and Diego Abraham Capariño but won the title with a higher tiebreak.
NM Roque had 48 points compared to Ganzon’s 43 and Capariño’s 41.
Roque won P3,500 and a trophy, Ganzon got P2,500 and a medal while Capariño settled for third place.
Alphecca Gonzales, meanwhile, emerged as the top Danaoanon and top kiddie player. She also placed ninth overall with 7.0 points.
According to FIDE Arbiter and University of San Carlos Basic Education head coach Felix Poloyapoy, the Danao City Sports Commission and the Danao City Chess Club are planning to stage another edition of this tournament in December after a successful turnout last weekend, wherein they were able to draw more than 180 wood pushers.