International Master Ronald Dableo (third from left) beat all of six opponents before halving the point in his final match to win the 2nd JCI Senate Lipa Open Rapid Chess Tournament held June 14,2025 at the Lipa Academy of Sports Culture and Arts, Barangay Dagatan in Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines.
Dableo finished the 7-Round Swiss System Tournament with 6.5 points, the same output of IM Michael Concio Jr. of Dasmarinas City, Cavite.
Dableo’s superior tie break points earned him the championships trophy plus P35,000 cash prize for the first place in this tournament organized by JCI Senate Lipa headed by its president Gary Malabanan and supported by Lipa City Mayor Eric Africa in close cooperation with former Vice-Mayor Kuya Boy Manguerra, Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers – PSME past president Engr. Roger Reyes and Engr. Danny Reyes.
Concio, on the other hand received the runner-up prize of P25,000 for his efforts in this 1-day rapid event being held in Celebration of Lipa City Foundation Day.
Dableo defeated Herson Bangay in the first round, NM Arman Subaste in the second round, Esmael Abas in the third round, Tristan Jared Cervero in the fourth round, GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. in the fifth round, GM Darwin Laylo in the sixth round then halving the point with Chester Neil Reyes in the seventh and final round.
Reyes, Jhulo Goloran and Lee Roi Palma shared third to fifth places, respectively, with 6.0 points each.
Rounding up the top 10 with 5.5 points each were GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., FM David Elorta, FM Ivan Travis Cu, GM Darwin Laylo and Kevin Mirano.
Meanwhile, Clyde Jared Torena topped the Under-14 division via tiebreak. Torena, tied for first-second places with Justin Jed Ortillo at 6.0 points apiece. With the higher tiebreak points, Torena took the title while Ortillo finished second.-Marlon Bernardino-