Johnny Wellem Carzano emerged as champion of the TBSI, Inc. FIDE-Rapid Open Chess Tournament held August 25, 2025 at the Tangub City Global College, Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines.
Carzano finished the 7-round Swiss system competition with 6.5 points from six wins and one draw to clinch the title and the P6,000 cash prize.
Carzano scored victories over Ellianah Arellano in the first round, Dominic Carl Gumisad in the second round, Vivencio Mendoza Jr. in the third round, Paciano Gulle in the fourth round, Julius Dan Augustine Ablin in the fifth round and Nazario Ubanan in the seventh and final round. Carzano split the point with Jones Maghuyop in the sixth round.
Ablin, Teodor Francis Mangubat and Rodney Opada landed second, third and fourth places with similar 6.0 points while Maghuyop, Aljie Cantonjos and Mendoza settled for fifth, sixth and seventh places with 5.5 points each.
Rounding out the top 10 with 5.0 points each were Ubanan (8th), Jezreel Lopez (9th) and Gilbert Baba (10th).
Carzano is set to compete in the Penang Chess Festival scheduled December 18 to 25, 2025 in Penang, Malaysia.
Carzano is fresh from an overall 7th place finish in the Asian Amateur Blitz Chess Championships held August 1 to 9, 2025 in Hongkong, China. -Marlon Bernardino-