Johnny Wellem Carzano emerged as the champion in the Gambit Masters Chess Tournament 2025 on January 25, 2025 at the Arabia’s Residence, Carmen Annex in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines.
The Tangub City chess wizard Carzano rode on a blistering start as he hurdled his first three opponents – Quinn Zian Yongod, Paul Benedict Arapoc and Mandy Ortiz.
He snapped his three-match winning streak when he was beaten by Mardonio Fuentes in the fourth round.
However, Carzano went on to win the last three rounds against Shojie Navarro, Gilbert Baba and Jarfinel Amodia for the crown.
The 36-year-old Carzano finished with 6.0 points in seven rounds on account of six 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 to the top ten are Baba (second), Fuentes (third), Amodia (fourth), Ortiz (fifth), Archilaus Turno (sixth), Navarro (seventh), Adrian Bohol (eight), Roberto Gotual (ninth) and Deric Herald Jornales (tenth).
It shall be recalled that Carzano also won 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 and the 10th Carlo and Wendy Chess Tournament held at Barangay Nabilid in Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte last January 17, 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-