by Marlon Bernardino
DR. ALFREDO PAEZ of Cabuyao, Laguna and Philippine chess prodigy eight year old Al Basher "Basty"Jumangit- Buto of Cainta, Rizal emerged as the top performing wood pushers in the first-ever Coffeekoy Pichakai Executive and Kiddies-Youth Rapid Chess Tournament at the Coffeekoy Pichakai coffee shop, Village East, Executive Homes in Cainta, Rizal on Sunday, January 14, 2018.

Paez, a dentist by profession and top honcho of Jolly Smile Dental Clinic in Cabuyao, Laguna, scored a total of 4.0 points in five outings  to rule the executive division while Buto, a grade 2 student of Faith Christian School in Cainta, Rizal dominated the Kiddies-Youth division with a perfect run of 5.0 points after five rounds in the one day event bankrolled by Macel and Nikki Ventura and supported by Hadji Sallam , engineer Kandi Macalangcom, Nasief Malawani, Sitti Ruaina "Ruru" Kiram Ferriols, Willie Felix, Janice Tacsagon,Buboy Sauro, Snooky Malicdem,  Richard Quimo , John Patrick dela Paz,Maria Karla Chiu, Teresa Buenaobra,Teresa Buenaobra, Farolito and Sheeneth Arbiol, Marlette Cawilan and Melchor Samson of Faith Christian School, 1996 Philippine Junior champion NM Roberto Suelo Jr. , Singapore-based Jaime Tiburcio, Mayor Dental Clinic, supporter of the youth Nebu Alejandrino and sportsman Johnielle Keith "Kit" Pasion Nieto with National Arbiter Alexander "Alex" Dinoy of Chess Arbiter Union of the Ph lippines (CAUP) supervised the said chessfest which aims to promote camaraderie among chess players and assisted by National Master Romeo Alcodia, Arturo Santos and Leonardo Cabreros and organized by Mr. Bong Buto.

 

Paez, a former top player of National University (NU) in Bustillos, Manila during his college days in the 90's opened his bid in a bright note by beating lawyer Rodrigo Artuz in Round 1, but was yielded to engineer Benjamin Esquejo in Round 2, came back winning his last three round assignment against  Sales Director Samivin V. Delos Santos of SM Development Corporation, DepEd Instructional Manager Jason Rojo and Sales Manager Jose Villaceran, respectively.

 

Paez went home the top prize P1,000 plus Coffeekoy Pichakai elegant trophy and the unique Dark Queen Trophy of chess enterpreneur/businessman Arturo Turbanada.

Rojo took runner-up prize of P500 plus Coffeekoy Pichakai elegant trophy and the customized chess box of chess enterpreneur/businessman Arturo Turbanada while Toshiba Philippines champion Engineer Roy Manaloto got third prize of P500 and Coffeekoy Pichakai elegant trophy. Rojo and Manaloto tallied identical 3.5 points apiece.

 

Buto, on his part pocketed Kiddies P500 top prize plus Coffeekoy Pichakai elegant trophy and the customized chess box of chess enterpreneur/businessman Arturo Turbanada.

Rohanisah Buto of Cainta, Rizal took the Best Female award while eight year-old Jacob Villaceran of Binangonan, Rizal won best youngest participant award.

Other notable woodpushers seeing in action were IT Manager Edwin Sison of Vital C Health Products Inc., Herson Gueco, Laguna kiddies champion Alexandra Sydney Paez, Julia Villaceran, Khalid Yaseen Macaslang, Terrence Buenaobra, Abdul Rahman, Alysah and Mickayla Buto.-Marlon Bernardino-