by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines—University of Santo Tomas top chess player Samson Chhiu Chhin Lim ruled the Grandmaster Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. Memorial Open Chess Tournament virtually held at Lichess.org Platform on Sunday, September 26, 2021.
Lim’s superior tie break points earned him the coveted title and P10,000 top cash prize in the one day event hosted by Dr. Joe Balinas and Engr. Antonio “Uncle Paps” Balinas of the organizing Bayanihan Chess Club and sponsored by GM Balinas and Family.
Lim and Chester Neil Reyes, both tallied 17.5 points in this 20 Rounds Swiss System Bullet Online Tournament.
The 21 year old Lim is playing under the guidance of UST head coach GM candidate Ronald Dableo and GM Darwin Laylo.
The 16 year old Reyes, the pride of National University on the other hand, received the runner-up purse of P6,000 for his efforts.
In third place was FIDE Master Alekhine “Bbking” Nouri, who took home P5,000. He was followed by National Master Mark Jay Daños Bacojo for fourth place with P4,000 and FIDE Master Robert Suelo Jr., fifth place and P3,000.
Rounding up the top 10 finishers who pocketed P2,000 each were sixth placer FIDE Master Nelson Villanueva, seventh placer two-time Asian Junior Champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla, eighth placer Allan Pason, ninth placerAnatoly Pascua and tenth placer Aljie Cantonjos