Final Standings:
(Kiddies Division, 146 participants)
6.5 points---Angele Tenshi Biete
6.0 points--- Joshua Michael Yongco, Cyrus Vladimir Francisco, Franchesca Largo, Karlycris Clarito Jr., Jan Lei Kian Rosaupan
5.5 points--- Jan Kino Corpuz, Ivan Travis Cu, Wayne Ruiz, Lemmuel Jay Adena, Lovely Ann Geraldino, Josh Edmar Castro
5.0 points---Marc Benedict Caleon, Jeroniel Perez, Herson Bangay, Jace Oliver Fortin, Rain Yaxha Mogrogaba, Precious Nicole Lasin, John Matthew Alvarado, Bonjoure Fille Suyamin, Jelaine Adriano
5.0 points---Justine Diego Mordido, Jayson Danday, Jester Sistoza
4.5 points---Eder De Jesus Jr.
4.0 points--- AGM Srihaan Poddar, Vladmir Gonzales
3.5 points---WIM Kylen Joy Mordido, WFM Francois Marie Magpily, Jhulo Goloran, Joshua Francisco
3.0 points---Krezy Lane Ibanez, Joseph Lawrence Rivera, Paolo Estavillo, Iris May Dela Cruz, John Christopher Alvarado
2.5 points---King Alexander Reyes, Jerome Alcodia, Jomari Saltorio, Lovelyn Sarcilla
Angele Tenshi Biete won the Open Kitchen Rapid Chess tournament, also known as the IM Joel Banawa Chess Cup being held in memory of the late IM Rolly Martinez last Sunday at the Open Kitchen, Rockwell Business Center-Sheridan, Highwayhills, Greenfields District in Mandaluyong City.
Biete, a grade 8 pupil of De La Salle Santiago Zobel School put on a strong start and a stronger finish to run away with the Kiddies crown with 6.5 points to take home the top prize P5,000 plus the championship trophy and brand new leap digital chess clock in the 20 minutes plus five seconds delay tournament sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and supervised by arbiters from Chess Arbiter Union of the Philippines.
“I didn’t look to defend my title, just to play my best,” said, Biete, who won two (2) gold and one (1) silver plus a Candidate Master (CM) title during the 4th Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship held at the Asia Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand last August.
“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,” added Biete, who took the Open Kitchen Kiddies Rapid Chess tournament last June by edging Jeremy Marticio in a tie break points.
In the seventh and final round, Yongco needed only a draw to secure the title but yielded to Biete who successfully defended his kiddies title.
In the Juniors division, Justine Diego Mordido bested fellow five pointers Jayson Danday and Jester Sistoza in the tie break points to went home the top purse of P5,000 plus the championship trophy and brand new leap digital chess clock.
Earlier, 2019 Bucharest, Romania World Seniors Chess Championship representative/13-time Philippine Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr.and Open Kitchen boss China Aurelio made the ceremonial moves to highlight the start of the event.-Marlon Bernardino-