Renie Malupa of Cavite Spartans Rules First Chess Tournament

by Marlon Bernardino.
Renie Malupa, member of the Cavite Spartans chess team, proved that he 1s a class above the rest.
Malupa, a former gold medallist in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) chess league spearheading College of St. Benilde to victory, played in style, scoring 5 wins and 1 loss in six rounds then narrowly edged fellow 5-pointers Arjoe Loanzon of Cavite City and Lloyd Rubio, another member of the Cavite Spartans chess team in the most number of wins tiebreak to clinch the crown of the First Chess Tournament (over the board) dubbed as Vice Mayor Denver Chua chess cup was held last Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at the Academe of Donna Christine Chess Tournament in Dalahican, Cavite City.
For his latest feat, Malupa ran away with the P2,000 top purse; Loanzon received the runner-up prize of P1,000 while Rubio got P500 in the 10 minutes play to finish time control format, 1-day tournament sponsored by Mr. Bobby Echeverria, represented by Ms. Mavic Dimaculangan under the auspices of the City Council headed by Vice Mayor Denver Chua.
“The First Chess Tournament was really an opportunity for me to showcase the quality of chess that we have in the Cavite Spartans chess team,” said Malupa, a resident of Dasmarinas City, Cavite.
“Winning the First Chess Tournament meant so much to me. I’m really happy,” added Malupa, who honed his chess skills under the tutelage of 1996 Philippine Junior Champion FIDE Master Robert Suelo Jr., one of the ranking Filipino chess instructors in Singapore.
Coming in fourth is the Provincial Champion of Cavite in 2019 in the Elementary Level, Juncin Estrella of Bulihan, Silang while fifth place went to Michael Metrio from Tanza.
Adjudged category winners were Eduardo Tunguia of Bacoor City (top senior), Janmyl Tisado of General Trias City (top 18 and under), Ariel Santander of Trece Martirez City (top 14 and under), Eugene Evalo of Cavite City (top 12 and under) and Janna Pagkaliwangan also of Cavite City (top Lady player).
Tournament organizer was National Arbiter Amelito Reyes (Treasurer of Cavite Pawnstorm Chess Club, Regional Director Calabarzon of Philippine Arbiters Chess Confederation and also a National Trainer of Professional  Chess Trainers Association of the Philippines) backed by another National Arbiter Byron Gabrentina Villar.
Earlier, Vice Mayor Denver Chua made the ceremonial moves kicking off the one-day tournament also graced by 13-time Philippine Open Champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. and Cavite Pawnstorm Chess Club President Sonny Ilustre.
Vice Mayor Chua and GM Antonio also spearheaded the oath-taking of Cavite Pawnstorm Chess Club officers.
Photo shows Vice Mayor Denver Chua and 13-time Philippine Open Champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. making the ceremonial moves of the one-day tournament.
Also in photo are Cavite Pawnstorm Chess Club President Sonny Ilustre and Cavite Pawnstorm Chess Club Treasurer Amelito Reyes.