by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA—Chester Neil Reyes of Rodriguez, Rizal won the overall title in the Araneta City Open Rapid Chess Tournament held 18th September 2022 at the Activity Center of Ali Mall in Cubao, Quezon City.
The weekend event was organized by National Chess Federation of the Philippines Director Martin “Binky” Gaticales. Chess in shopping malls is popular in the Philippines. Mall management look for events to attract people and therefore offer facilities to tournament organizers. And the high visibility event helps popularize chess.
Organizer Martin “Binky” Gaticales (fourth from left) at the Ali Mall.
Reyes collected a perfect score of 7.0 points after beating Kevin Arquero of Pasay City in the seventh and final round.
FM Alekhine Nouri of City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan defeated NM Jasper Faeldonia of Manila to finish second with 6.0 points while Christian Arroyo of Cagayan de Oro City toppled FM Narquingden Reyes of Rodriguez, Rizal to land third with similar 6.0 points.
Nouri, the Philippine official representative to the World Juniors Under-20 Chess Championships to be held on October 11-23 in Sardinia, Italy had to settle for the second place by virtue of tie-break scores.
Narciso Gumilar Jr. of San Juan City subdued FM Nelson “Elo” Mariano III of Bacoor City, Cavite to finish overall fourth with 5.5 points.
Arquero landed in fifth place with a superior quotient in the huge group of five pointers that includes Rommel Lucion, Phil Martin Casiguran (Best Kiddie Player), IM Richelieu Salcedo III, Sherwin Tiu, Joshua Michael Yongco, Faeldonia and Walt Allen Talan.
Casiguran won the Best Kiddie Player award while NM Romeo Alcodia won the Best Senior Player award.