Jerome Villanueva reigned supreme in the the 1st GMG Chess Club (Non-Master Open) Tournament 2025 sponsored by Coach NM Gerald Ferriol January 25, 2025 at the Checkpoint Mall in Calamba City, Laguna, Philippines. In photo are, from left, Mr. Ernie Gonzales, Mr. Jerome Villanueva (Champion) and Coach NM Gerald Ferriol.
Villanueva, who plays for PCAP’s Pasig City King Pirates, bagged the P5,000 top prize of the 15 minutes plus 3 seconds increment rapid time control format organized by GMG Chess Club. He registered the highest output of 6.5 points in 7 rounds on account of 6 wins and 1 draw.
Villanueva defeated Jewel Mae Aguilar, Miguel Arond Galleguez, Michael Gastala, Vincent Ryu Dimayuga, Ace Christian Alcira and Janmyl Dilan Tisado before halving the point with Kevin Arquero in the last round to claim the title.
Villanueva is a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) employee at TELUS company.
Dimayuga, Tisado, Arquero occupied the second to fourth spots with 6.0 points each.
Dimayuga received P3,000 , Tisado earned P2,000 while Arquero got P1,000 for his efforts.
Terrence Relativo and Gastala wound up fifth and sixth with identical 5.5 points.
Alcira, Galleguez, Christian Huavas and Jeremy Marticio completed the top 10 with 5.0 points.
Jersey Marticio won the top girl (20 year old and below) award with similar 5.0 points.-Marlon Bernardino-