MANILA—National Master (NM) lawyer Bob Jones Liwagon carried the AE BOB chess team on his shoulders as they ripped the Philippine Army N Heroes For Hire chess team to emerge victgorious in the Sen. Manny Pacquiao Tuna Festival Chess Team Tournament champions September 4, 2022 at the Robinsons Place in General Santos City.
Sen. Manny Pacquiao (left) playing blitz with Bob Jones Liwagon (right)
Liwagon, a Captain officer ranks at the Office of the Army Judge Advocate and playing under the guidance of Col. Liberato O. Ramos (GSC) JAGS, defeated International Master Daniel Quizon on Board One to seal the 3-0 win in their seventh and final round encounter as the AE BOB chess team cliamed the crown plus the P200,000 champion’s purse in the event back up by Extreme Gaming, Luminuex Glutathione Capsule and businessman Changsuk Lyu, organized by United States chess master Rodolfo “Jun” Panopio Jr.
“I knew that this was a tough tournament with all the players. I just tried to play my best and now I am really happy,” said Liwagon (photo above), a former top board player of University of Sto. Tomas (UST) chess team and Bachelor of Science (BS) in Commerce Major in Business Administration graduate student. He won his biggest award in 2001 when he won the Philippine Age Group Chess championships and the coveted National Master title.
Samson Lim Jr. beat Vince Angelo Medina on Board Two while Vince Duane Pascual toppled Wenlan Temple in Board Three to complete the shut-out victory.
LGU Iligan, meantime edged GM Balinas, 2-1, as Engr. Cecil Cuevas subdued multi-awarded painter Drigo Teves on board two.
IM Ronald Bancod and Julius Dan Augustine Ablin halved the point with GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. and Michael Jan Stephen Rosalem Inigo on board one and board three as LGU Iligan caught eventual champion AE BOB chess team on top with similar 12 match points.
LGU Iligan pocketed the runner-up prize of P100,000 despite losing to AE BOB chess team in the tie break.
Tiktokerz chess team spearheaded by FM Narquingden Reyes, Chester Neil Reyes and Rhenz Rheann Auza settled for third while LGU-Bukidnon-Nemesis 2 chess team composed of Jeriel Manlimbana, Randolph Christopher Dalauta and Bryan Jose ended up overall 4th place to receive P50,000 and P25,000, respectively. Tiktokerz and Nemesis 2 tallied 11 match points apiece.
Four Teams—University of Sto. Tomas, Ligon All Stars, GM Balinas Team and Negros Team B—shared fifth to eight places with 10 match points each.
Completing the top 10 with 9 match points each were ninth MP Team and tenth Philippine Army N Heroes For Hire chess team.
Chief Arbiter was FIDE Arbiter Felix Poloyapoy assisted by National Arbiters Jojo Palero and Elias Banguiran in this NCFP sanctioned tournament, FIDE rated standard time control format, 1 hr + 3 secs. delay., hosted by NCFP Vice President Sen. Manny Pacquiao.
Final Rankings: (FIDE rated standard time control format, 1 hr + 3 secs. delay, 56 participating teams)
Champion: AE BOB (P200,000)
2nd: LGU ILIGAN (P100,000)
3rd: TIKTOKERZ (P50,000)
4th:LGU BUKIDNON – NEMESIS2 (P25,000)
5th: UST (P15,000)
6th:LIGON ALL STARS (P10,000)
7th: GM BALINAS TEAM (P9,000)
8th: NEGROS TEAM B (P8,000)
9th:MP TEAM (P7,000)
10th:PHILIPPINE ARMY N HEROES FOR HIRE (P6,000)