by Marlon Bernardino
Philippine chess wizard Al-Basher Buto pocketed top honors in the 2nd Jessie Villasin Cup online chess tournament held at the lichess platform on Saturday, February 20, 2021.
The 11-year-old Buto, a grade five student of Faith Christian School in Cainta, Rizal collected six points on five wins and two draws to win the seven-round tournament.
Fondly called “Basty” in the chess world, he scored victories against Stephanie Jabagat of Puerto Princesa City in the first round, Quarl Vera Cruz of Misamis Oriental in the second round, Oshrie Jhames Reyes of Santa Rita, Pampanga in the third round, Arena Grandmaster Christian Gian Karlo Arca of Panabo City, Davao del Norte in the fourth round and Christian Tolosa of Imus, Cavite in the fifth round
He split the point with John Curt Valencia of Dasmarinas City, Cavite in the sixth round and Gabriel Ryan Paradero of Pasig City in the seventh and final round.
Valencia placed second overall with 5.5 points on five wins, one draw and one loss while AGM Arca, who had inferior tiebreak points, ended in third with the same 5.5 points output.
Vera Cruz, meantime landed at solo fourth place with 4.5-points output.
At 5th to 10th places were Jian Carlo Rivera of Rodriguez, Rizal (4 pts.), Gabriel Ryan Paradero of Pasig City (4 pts.), Christian Tolosa of Imus City, Cavite (4 pts.), John Luis Rivera of Rodriguez, Rizal (3.5 pts.), Oshrie Jhames Reyes of Santa Rita, Pampanga (3.5 pts.) and Stephanie Jabagat of Puerto Princesa City (3.5 pts.).
It shall be recalled that Ivan Travis Cu of San Juan City emerged champion in the 1st Jessie Villasin Cup online chess tournament held at the lichess platform last February 13, 2021.
Cu scored 6.5 points in seven games of play to edge Buto and Arca who finished second and third, respectively, in the 21-player field, elementary division of the rapid five minutes plus five seconds increment time control format. Buto earned six points while Arca got five points in this event, organized by Mobile Chess Club Philippines Libangan Team
(Final Standings: 7 Round Swiss System, 5 minutes plus 5 seconds increment time control format, 17-player field, )
6 points—Al Basher-Buto (Cainta, Rizal)
5.5 points—John Curt Valencia (Dasmarinas City, Cavite), AGM Christian Gian Karlo Arca (Panabo City, Davao del Norte)
4.5 points— Quarl Vera Cruz (Misamis Oriental)
4 points—Jian Carlo Rivera (Rodriguez, Rizal), Gabriel Ryan Paradero (Pasig City), Christian Tolosa (Imus City, Cavite)
3.5 points— John Luis Rivera (Rodriguez, Rizal), Oshrie Jhames Reyes (Santa Rita, Pampanga), Stephanie Jabagat (Puerto Princesa City)