Johnny Wellem Carzano of Tangub City won the Mayor Bertoldo “Dodong” Murallon Jr. active open chess championship held February 3, 2025 at the Municipal Mess Hall Tuno, Don Victoriano Misamis Occidental, Philippines.
Carzano, tied for first with Jarfinel Amodia at 5.0 points apiece in the active time control event being held to coincide the 43rd Araw ng Don Victoriano and Annual Fiesta Celebration 2025. With the higher tie break points, Carzano took the title plus the top prize P4,000 while Amodia finished second to earn P3,000.
The 36-year-old Carzano finished with 5.0 points in six games on account of five wins and one loss.
Carzano, a former varsity player at the University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu City thanked his mentor Atty. Peter Chin Dur, Engr. Billy Joe Ereno and the NJSB Chess Academy family for supporting his chess campaign.
Rounding up the top 13 were third Rodney Opada (4.5 points), fourth Julius Ablin (4.0 points), fifth Adrian Bohol (4.0 points), sixth Mardonio Fuentes (3.5 points), seventh Edmund Virgilio Putong (3.0 points), eight John Rhey Mangubat (3.0 points), ninth Lordan Baco (3.0 points), tenth Roldan Ponce (2.0 points), eleventh Chrispin Lopez (2.0 points), 12th Ian Gudmalin (2.0 points) and 13th Isidro Gumilid (2.0 points).
It shall be recalled that Carzano also won the Gambit Masters Chess Tournament 2025 at the Arabia’s Residence, Carmen Annex in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental last January 25, 2025.
He also won the 10th Carlo and Wendy Chess Tournament held at Barangay Nabilid in Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte last January 17, 2025 and the Pasalamat Festival 2025 Mayor Sammy Co Rapid Chess Tournament held at Plaza Luz Covered Court City Hall Complex in Pagadian City last January 11 to 12, 2025.
He is set to compete in the 2025 Sydney International Open Chess Championship to be held on April 23 to 27, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.-Marlon Bernardino-