by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA---Pinagharian ni reigning National Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio "Banjo" Barcenilla Jr. ang katatapos na 1st Philippine National Bullet Chess Championship online sa pamosong chess website: "www.chess.com" nitong Lunes, Marso 23, 2020.
Si Barcenilla, ng two-time (1989 and 1990) Asian Junior champion sa India at Dubai at 1991 Bronze medalist sa World Juniors championship sa Romania ay nakipaghatian ng puntos kay Fide Master Sander Severino sa final round para pormal na makopo ang titulo ng 18-round tournament, 200 player's field na sinuportahan ni Deputy Speaker at Surigao del Sur rep. Prospero "Butch" Arreza Pichay Jr., na chairman/president din ng National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
Ang Arizona, USA based Barcenilla na ipinagmamalaki ng Barangay Malamig sa Mandaluyong City ay naka kolekta ng 15 points mula sa 14 wins, 2 draws at 2 loses.
"It was a great feeling winning in this tough 200 player's field 18 round tournament," sabi ng Iloilo born Barcenilla na tubong Cebu at Iligan City din.
Tumapos si International Master Daniel Quizon (14 points) sa second na sinundan ni third placer non-master Samson Chhiu Chhin Lim (13.5 points) at fourth placer 13-time Philippine Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. (13 points) na nagwagi naman ng top Senior award.
"Congratulations to the winners of the 1st leg of our 1st Philippine National (should be international, dahil maraming pinoys from other countries na sumali) Bullet Chess Championship online! After 18 rounds of gruelling non-stop bullet chess action, our reigning National Champion in Standard Chess GM Rogelio Barcenilla proved to all that he is also very strong in this extremely fast format of chess. The best is also the fastest! Although already 47 years old, he outpaced the field and finished a full point ahead of the 2nd placer, 15-year old IM Daniel Quizon. Hurray for GM Banjokov! Walang kupas talaga ang ating Grandmaster from Cebu!" sabi ni tournament director Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe, ang chess federation executive director.
"The lightning kid from DasmariƱas, IM Daniel Maravilla Quizon, also proved his strength in this format by placing solo 2nd in this very strong and start-studded field. Finally, the surprise solo third placer is Samson Chhiu Chhin Lim from UST. Although untitled, he defeated GM Barcenilla and IM Richeliu Salcedo in successive fashion to finish alone in third place! Bravo!" huling pananalita ni Atty. Orbe.-Marlon Bernardino-