by Marlon Bernardino.
International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia stamped his class again by topping the GM Atty. Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. online bullet chess tournament dubbed as “Balinas Day ” Monday, March 8, 2021 at lichess.org.
The 25-year-old Garcia, a program chess director at Ateneo de Manila University chess team, tallied 150 Arena points to rule the online tilt sponsored by US based frontliner Dr. Joe Balinas and Engr. Antonio “Uncle Paps” Balinas, both founding Honorary Chairmen of the organizing Bayanihan Chess Club, in cooperation with Mr. Jimmy Reyes, Mr. Dodoy Kriz Villareal, Mr. Fernan Donguines of Hybreed Apparel Collections and Canadian National Master Zulfikar Sali, team owner of Zamboanga Sultans.
“I’m so happy with this result. ” said Garcia, who also won the Grandmaster (GM) and Attorney (Atty.) Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. and Mayor Maria Carla Lopez Pichay online chess tournament last December 27, 2020.
Candidate Master Chester Neil Reyes of Rodriguez, Rizal, a Philippine junior team standout who plays for the National University, meantime registered 139 Arena points to finished solo second place.
In third place is FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri of Escalante City, Negros Occidental who had 131 Arena points.
Karl Victor Ochoa of Malolos City, Bulacan finished fourth with 130 Arena points followed by fifth placer International Master Paulo Bersamina of Pasay City who notched 114 Arena points.
Rounding up to the top ten (10) were International Master Daniel Quizon of Dasmarinas City, Cavite, Anatoly Pascua of Manila, Kyle Ochoa of Malolos City, Bulacan, reigning International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) World Online Chess Rapid Championship ruler FIDE Master Sander Severino of Silay City, Negros Occidental and National Master Giovanni Mejia of Taguig City.