Chester Neil Reyes emerged as the champion in the 2025 Sta. Maria Town Fiesta Chess Challenge Open Division held February 2, 2025 at the ICI College, Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines.
Reyes, who plays for the University of Santo Tomas chess team under the tutelage of coach GM candidate Ronald Dableo and GM Darwin Laylo, pocketed the P10,000 purse and the trophy and medal for ruling the tournament with over 80 players.
He had a near-perfect campaign after tallying 6.5 points in the seven-round Swiss system competition.
This event is being held in cooperation with the 2025 Santa Maria Town Fiesta Committee headed by President Engr. Annabel Mauricio-Roldan and in partnership with University of Santo Tomas (UST) Chess Team, NORI Chess Club and Bulacan 6th District Congressman Salvador “Ador” A. Pleyto.
The UST Sophomore BSIT student Reyes scored victories against Rohanisah Buto, Yuri Lei Paraguya, Ricky Echala, FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo, Mark Gerald Reyes and FIDE Master Stephen Rome Pangilinan in the first and sixth rounds, respectively.
He snapped his six-match winning streak when he had a draw against Sherwin Tiu in the seventh and final round.
Bacojo went on placing second overall with 6.0 points.
Bacojo’s second place finish earned him P5,000, while the third place went to FIDE Master Christian Mark Daluz with similar 6.0 points to earn P3,000.
The fourth to 10th placers were Sherwin Tiu (5.5 points), Kyle Emmanuel Ochoa (5.5 points), Johann Cedrick Gaddi (5.5 points), Mark Gerald Reyes (5.0 points), GM Darwin Laylo (5.0 points), FIDE Master Stephen Rome Pangilinan (5.0 points) and Lennon Hart Salgados (5.0 points), respectively.
Ceremonial moves between GM Darwin Laylo and Faith Louise Dorupa; GM candidate and IM Ronald Dableo and 2025 Fiesta Town President and Engr. Annabel Mauricio-Roldan; FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo and Tournament Director Normel Benigno De Jesus; and National Master Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. and Chess Committee official Joselito Pascual to usher the start of Santa Maria Town Fiesta 2025 Chess Tournament at ICI College Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines.
In the 17 years old and under, National Master Karlycris Clarito Jr. of Pasig City emerged champion with 6.5 points in seven outings.
National Master Mar Aviel Carredo, Rudmark Dela Cruz and Jerick Faeldonia, each tallied with 6.0 points, took second, third and fourth place.
Allan Gabriel Hillario, National Master Al-Basher Buto and Lemmuel Jay Adena secured the fifth, sixth and seven spots with 5.5 points apiece while Sumer Justine Oncita, Elexis Jazz Mendez and Joshua Mallari made it to the top 10 who totes 5.0-points each.
Tournament Director was Normel Benigno De Jesus while Chief Arbiter was Alfredo Chay.-Marlon Bernardino-