From left, CEPCA official Stephen Rosales, NM Rogelio Enriquez Jr. CEPCA officials Edwin Cablao and Darianne Vales during the awarding of the inaugural Councilor Rey Gealon Chess Tournament. | Contributed photo
National Master (NM) Rogelio Enriquez topped the inaugural Councilor Rey Gealon Chess Tournament on Sunday, September 10, 2023, at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu.
NM Enriquez, one of the players of the Toledo Trojans in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP), finished with a near perfect 8.5 points after nine rounds.
NM Enriquez, who started as the No. 4 seed in the tournament, brought home the P8,000 purse for his title-winning performance.
He started his campaign with three straight wins against Adina Vera Kwan, Niko Dioquino, and Maria Kristine Lavandero to clinch his first three points.
However, NM Enriquez found his match in the fourth round after absorbing a draw against one of Cebu’s rising young woodpushers, Chris Aldritz Pondoyo.
NM Enriquez won his last five matches to secure the title. He defeated No. 3 seed Diego Abraham Caparino for an upset in the fifth round and went on beating Crisanto Tan Jr. and Anthony Makinano in the sixth and seventh rounds, respectively.
He finished the last two rounds with wins over fellow Trojans Allan Pason in the eighth and NM Merben Roque in the final round.
Aaron Resma finished second with 8.0 points, while Makinano rounded off the top three woodpushers with 7.5 points.
The chess tournament was organized by Councilor Gealon himself in partnership with Cepca headed by its president Jerry Maratas.
/bmjo
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