Mel George Faitriz Cadano won the “Ang Buhay at Batas” FIDE Rapid Chess Tournament 1599 Below held 31st March 2024 at the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (PACE) headquarter in Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines.
Cadano finished with 5.5 points, the same output of Joie Presente.but won the tie break.
“I am very happy with my victory,” said Cadano, who earlier beat Zeyus Kyle Del Mundo (Round 1), Kyle Jhazmin Clarito (Round 2), Aiker Paz (Round 3), Jan Renzo Ochave (Round 4), and Clarence Ong (Round 5), respectively before halving the point with Espino .
Espino, on the other hand, settled for over-all third with 5.0 points.
Four players tied for fourth to the seventh places – Jean Antonette Brade, Jane Tatad, Paul Matthew Jamon and Ericson Puso after finishing with 4.5 points each. However, Brade’s higher tie break points earned her fourth place.
Those who made it to the top 11 after scoring 4.0 points are Jan Renzo Ochave, 11 years odl and country’s youngest National Master (NM) Nika Juris Nicolas, Jared Lopez, and Clarito.
In photo, 11 year old and country’s youngest National Master Nika Juris Nicolas received her certificate and medal from National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) CEO/FST GM Jayson Gonzales. She will represent the country in the World Cadet Rapid & Blitz Championships on April 25-29, 2024 in Durres, Albania.
Meanwhile, Christian Mendoza (9.5 points) won the blitz category followed by second place Ricardo Batcho (9.0 points), third place Alfredo Balquin Jr. (8.0 points), fourth place Allen Joshua Zambrano (8.0 points) and Ervil Villa (8.0 points).
Batcho also won the 1899 Below blitz event last Saturday, March 30, 2024 while Carl Daluz topped the 1899 Below rapid event.
The “Ang Buhay at Batas” FIDE Rapid Chess Tournament 1599 Below and 1899 Below divisions were organized by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) CEO/FST GM Jayson Gonzales, supported by Atty. Nikki de Vega and Atty. Krisanto Karlo Nicolas. – Marlon Bernardino-