EDSEL Montoya scored 2.5 points in the last three rounds last Sunday to pull off a come-from-behind victory in the 27th Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (Cepca) Anniversary Tournament dubbed as Boy “Chessmoso” Pestano Open Chess Memorial Cup at the Knight Attack Chess Cafe in Robinsons Galleria Cebu.
Montoya was standing in third place after six rounds of the nine-round Swiss system tournament but scored back-to-back wins in the 7th and 8th rounds and a crucial draw against eventual third placer Rommel Ganzon in the 9th to tally 8.0 points, good for P10,000.
Joel Pacuribot finished second with 7.5 points, the same output of third placer Ganzon and fourth placer Elwin Retanal. They were ranked according to the accumulated tie break points.
Fide Master (FM) Anthony Makinano, who led after six rounds, dropped to fifth overall with 7.0 points, the same score of Mario Mangubat, Bryle Arellano, Adrian Basil Basilgo.
Top seed and International Master (IM) Kim Steven Yap placed ninth with 6.5 points along with Arnold Cadiz and Carlos Moreno III.
The two-day wood pushing tournament was held to pay tribute to the late Cepca founder Engr. Francisco “Boy” Pestaño which is supported by Celjem Construction & Dev’t. Corp., JEMAR Engineering Services, PNPA Buklod-Diwa Class of 2001, Phillips Sanctuary and the Pestaño family.