by Marlon Bernardino.
Engineer Jasper Rom of Cebu defeated Norman Jasper Montejo of Catbalogan, Samar in the final round then edged Engr. Lloyd Lanciola of San Dionisio, Iloilo on tiebreaks to snare the 2021 National Executive Chess Championship held on online tournament at the lichess.org on, Thursday, February 18, 2021.
Rom, a member of the multi-titled national paralympic chess team, checkmated Montejo after 41 moves of a French defense.
It was Rom’s first victory in this monthly blitz online chess tournament backed up by Dr. Audwin Verzosa, Dr. Ching Hernandez-Verzosa of Sydney-Australia and Jolly Smile Dental Clinic.
The event was organized by Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA) and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), in coordination with Philippine Arbiters Chess Confederation (PACC).
“Winning the 2021 National Executive Chess Championship made my online chess truly meaningful,” Rom said.
“He made one inferior move in the middlegame that I clearly saw what was coming then,” he added.
Lanciola, meanwhile, beat Ramil Langamon of Panabo City, Davao del Norte after 46 moves of Sicilian defense.
With the crucial win, Rom finished with 8 points in 9 rounds of blitz chess (five minutes time control play to finish) to pocket the P5,000 top purse while Lanciola went home the runner-up prize of P3,000.
Infopro Business Solutions Inc, Manager Leonard Raymond Reyes of Paranaque and Canadian National Master Zulfikar Sali of Zamboanga City, both scored 7 points to share third and fourth places and receive P2,000 and P1,000 respectively.
Engr. Ravel Canlas of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) landed solo fifth place with 6.5-point output to receive P700.
Jimmy Ty of Tacloban City, Ramil Langamon of Panabo City, Davao del Norte , Victor “Bong”Anas of Bocaue, Bulacan, Irwin Anton of Davao City and Emil Valeza of Naga City finished tied for sixth to tenth with 6 points got P500 each.
Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA) president Arena Grandmaster Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez, who is also Assistant Executive Director for Southern Luzon of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines said he was thankful to the sponsoring Dr. Audwin Verzosa, Dr. Ching Hernandez-Verzosa of Sydney-Australia and Jolly Smile Dental Clinic for the trust and confidence accorded his to handle the 2021 National Executive Chess Championship held on online tournament.
Other notable woodpushers who saw action in this 1-day tournament were Arena Grandmaster Arjie Bayangat of Santa Rosa, Laguna (11th place), 7-time Philippine Executive Chess Champion Dr. Jenny Mayor of Cajidiocan, Romblon (15th place), Arena Grandmaster Dandel Fernandez of Quezon City (20th place), Arena International Master Rey Urbiztondo of Surigao del Sur (21st place), Arena Grand Master Rey Reyes of Zamboanga City (24th place), International Master Petronio Roca of Dasmarinas City, Cavite (25th place) and International Arbiter/Fide Trainer James Infiesto of Davao City (28th place).
File photo shows, from left, Arena Grandmaster Henry Roger Lopez of Panabo City, Davao del Norte, National Master Jasper Rom of Cebu and FIDE Master Sander Severino of Silay City, Negros Occidental.