by Marlon Bernardino
Antipolo City, Philippines —Steven Lanada, a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education graduate student of Rizal Technological University swept his assignments and scored 7.0 points to rule the just concluded 1st Barangay Dela Paz chess tournament held at the Barangay Dela Paz covered court in Antipolo City on Sunday, August 20.
In photo, FIDE Master Christopher Castellano, Kap. Jeff Naval Fernan and Barangay council and SK Chairperson Elyssa Mae “Sam” A. Rivera and Barangay council made the ceremonial moves, firing off the one-day event, which aims to promote chess at the grass roots level and to discover future chess talents.
The 26 years old Lanada opened his campaign with a win over Kristine Reigne Espiritu then followed it with victories over Race John Alceso, Jilliam Avwill Bucsit, Johnny Rey Cauli, William Bucsit, Leo Carlo Campomanes and Lovenson Navarro.
Lanada pocketed the P5,000 cash prize, certificate, chess set and an elegant trophy courtesy of Kap. Jeff Naval Fernan and Barangay Council and SK Chairperson Elyssa Mae “Sam” A. Rivera and SK Council.
“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 Lanada, who help the RTU chess team into an over-all championship during the 2018 National Capital Region-State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (NCR-SCUAA) chess team tournament where he won the individual board 3 gold medal award.
Lanada who learned chess at the age of 11 from his uncle Roger Laneda is the 2011 Barangay Eusebio winner in Pasig City as well the 2015 Barangay Burgos champion in Rodriguez, Rizal.
Teo Pastorite Jr. and Enrique Encarnacion finished second and third placers after tallying 6.0 points apiece while Lovenson Navarro and Leo Carlo Campomanes wound up fourth and fifth placers with 5.5 points each.
Rounding up to the top 11 with 5.0 points each are sixth Rodrigo Ramirez, seventh Nino Jan Manloloyo, eight Ericson Valeria, ninth Reedemer Berzonan, tenth Kurt David Panelo and eleventh Adrianne Glenn Sedurifa.
Kap. Jeff Naval Fernan gave an inspirational message to the chess participants
Final Standings: (Seven Round Swiss System, 15 minutes plus 5 seconds time control format)
7.0 points—Steven Lanada
6.0 points—Teo Pastorite Jr., Enrique Encarnacion
5.5 points—Lovenson Navarro, Leo Carlo Campomanes
5.0 points—Rodrigo Ramirez, Nino Jan Manloloyo, Ericson Valeria, Reedemer Berzonan, Kurt David Panelo, Adrianne Glenn Sedurifa