FORMER Far Eastern University (FEU) bet Marcus Fratkin halved the point with Arena Grandmaster (AGM) Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. in the fourth and penultimate round then defeated youthful Jeremy Marticio in the fifth and final round tie for the Costa Abril Resort Open's chess top spot with National Master (NM) Romeo Alcodia with their identical 4.5 points held recently at the Costa Abril Resort, Number 40 Dao Street in Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal.

Fratkin became the meet's top finisher in this 34 player's field, five round Swiss-system after gaining a tie break score of 16 against Alcodia's 15.5 in the one-day event, using the 10 minutes plus three seconds delay mode time control format organized by Bagong Silangan Chess Club Association headed by it's top honcho Rogelio Baccay in close cooperation with Ron Demain and supervised by CNA Jodito Deroca and Christopher Fernandez of the Chess Arbiter Union of the Philippines.

Arena Grandmaster (AGM) Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr., meantime toppled JR Salvador in the final canto to notch 4 points, the same output of female player Jersey Marticio, winner over John Eric Margarito. Bernardino placed third overall with a superior quotient of 13.5 points, ahead with Marticio with 9 points.

Rounding up to the top 10-circle are 5th Jeremy Marticio (3.5 points), 6th John Carlo Yulo (3.5 points), 7th John Andrew Margarito (3.5 points), 8th John Eric Margarito (3.5 points), 9th JR Salvador (3 points) and 10th Jerome Alcodia (3 points).-Marlon Bernardino-