Philippines

Oro chessers shine in Pacman random chess

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(LLS)

CAGAYAN de Oro chessers shone in the cash-rich 1st Manny Pacquiao Cup Random chess team tournament held September 4-5 at the SM Mall of the Pacman’s beloved hometown, General Santos City.

CdeO-groomed talents International Master Richelieu “Jongjong” Salcedo III, Alfredo Rapanot, Christian Arroyo and Lennon Hart Salgados -- all mainstays (old and new) of the UAAP great Far Eastern University Tamaraws -- rose to the spotlight in the country’s first ever major random chess invented by the late American genius Bobby Fischer.

The youthful Salcedo and Rapanot played alongside National Master Jerad Docena and Kevin Mirano (also from FEU) for the Mark Yabut Jake Carlos Realty and Finance team to pile up 12 match points for a solo first place in the seven-round event that earned for them the lion’s share of P300,000.

Arroyo and Salgados, on the other hand, helped their respective teams garnered 11 match points each to share second to third places with pooled prizes of P150,000 each also with trophies.

Arroyo’s teammates in the Acxent Glass B team are International Masters Ronald Dableo and Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Timothy John Kua So.

The Pacman Crusaders team of Salgados is also anchored by Joel Pimentel Jr., Roel Abelgas and Recarte Tiauson.

Tied at fourth to sixth places are the teams of Cebu’s Rose Pharmacy A (IM Oliver Dimakiling, IM Kim Steven Yap, Edsel Montoya, Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano), Estomo Bohol (Norman Longjas, Jose Vito Tapulgo, Rommel Ganzon, Allan Salientes) and Acxent Glass A (GM Darwin Laylo, NM David Alorta, Sherwin Tiu, Samson Lim). They received around P35,000 apiece.

“There’s so much fun and challenge in playing random chess because the starting position that will be determined by the chief arbiter will take us into unchartered territories,” said Panabo City bet Henry Lopez.

Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre teamed up with boxing idol Manny Pacquiao, former PBA star Zaldy Realubit, Alekhine Nouri and Arnel Peniero for the 11th placer Pacman 2 (8 points).

But the ageless Torre did impress the chess crowd in GenSan when he copped the individual gold on board one with a remarkable 6.5/7.0 performance.

“Dako kaayong tabang nga nahilig si Manny (Pacquiao) sa chess kay at least maka-income ang mga players,” said Nazario Ubanan who also braved Gensan along with fellow Cagayan-anons Jhonnel Balquin and NM Rustum Tolentino.

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