Final Standings: (Seven Round Swiss-system, Standard play)
(Open Division)
6.0 points---GM John Paul Gomez
5.5 points---IM Paulo Bersamina, GM Darwin Laylo, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, NM John Merill Jacutina, GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr.
5.0 points---GM Jayson Gonzales, FM Stephen Rome Pangilinan, NM Joey Albert Florendo
(Women's Division)
6.0 points---WIM Catherine Perena-Secopito
5.5 points---WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego, WIM Bernadette Galas
5.0 points---WIM Mikee Charlene Suede, WFM Shania Mae Mendoza, WFM Michelle Yaon
4.5 points---Rowelyn Joy Acedo, WNM Christy Lamiel Bernales, WNM Francois Marie Magpily, Vicente Venice
CEBU---GRANDMASTER MASTER (GM) John Paul Gomez of Albay Province pocketed the top honors in the 2018 Philippine National Games (PNG) Chess Championships, Standard Open Competition Wednesday night at the Robinson Galleria Cebu here.
The top-ranked Gomez, with an ELO rating of 2461 whose stint here backed up by Albay Gov. Al Francis C. Bichara collected six points on five wins and two draws to win the seven-round tournament.
Gomez scored victories over Anthony Mosqueda of Davao City in the first round, National Master Noel dela Cruz in the second round, National Master Edsel Montoya of Cebu City in the fourth round, National Master John Merill Jacutina of Quezon City in the fifth round and International Master Paulo Bersamina in the sixth round.
He split the point with Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales of Albay Province in the third round and Grandmaster Darwin Laylo of Marikina City in the seventh and final round.
With his latest feat, Gomez, the former top player of De La Salle University (DLSU) chess team clinched the gold medal for Albay Province.
International Master Paulo Bersamina of Tandag City won silver while Grandmaster Darwin Laylo of Marikina City capture bronze medal after besting fellow 5.5 pointers in a tie break points that includes fourth place International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia of Manila, fifth place National Master John Merill Jacutina of Quezon City and sixth place Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales of Albay Province tallied 5.0 points to create a three-way tie for seventh place in the company of Fide Master Stephen Rome Pangilinan of Manila and National Master Joey Albert Florendo of Zamboanga City.
In the distaff side, Woman International Master Catherine Perena-Secopito of Bulacan halved the point with Woman Fide Master Michelle Yaon of Santa Rosa City, Laguna to scored 6.0 points and went home the gold medal.
Top seed Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna of Albay Province toppled former Asian Junior champion Woman International Master Mikee Charlene Suede to bag the silver medal.
Frayna who suferred a stinging defeat at the hands of Secopito in the sixth and penultimate round finished 5.5 points, the same output of third place Woman International Master Marie Antoinette San Diego of Dasmarinas City and fourth place Woman International Master Bernadette Galas of Makati City.
San Diego, a product of Dasmarinas Chess Academy of Dasmarinas City mayor Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga Jr. and congresswoman Jenny Barzaga won the bronze medal.
No less than Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey, National Chess Federation of the Philippines executive director Red Dumuk, National Chess Federation of the Philippines director Martin "Binky" Gaticales, International Arbiter Ilann Perez and International Arbiter Wilfredo Neri and Fide arbiters Felix Poloyapoy, Marvin Ruelan, Carlos Florendo and Odilon Badiles led the closing rites assisted by Fide National Arbiter elect Edilberto and Jerel John Velarde, National Arbiters Mark John Gastar, Noel Morales and Margie Narcilla. (Marlon Bernardino)
FIDE ARBITER'S SEMINAR IN CABUYAO CITY, LAGUNA
by Marlon Bernardino
CEBU---A FIDE (World Chess Federation) Arbiters' Seminar is going to be organized from June 2 to 3, 2018 at the Rizmy Hotel, Cabuyao City, Laguna.
The two-day FIDE seminar hosted by Cabuyao City, Laguna in cooperation with the National Chess Federation of Philippines (NCFP) and with the Asian Chess Federation and under the auspices of FIDE.
The Lecturer will be IA Casto "Toti" Abundo, FIDE Lecturer and Assistant Lecturer will be IA Patrick Lee.
The language of the Seminar will be English.
The Seminar will give norms for the FIDE Arbiter title according to the Regulations for the titles of the Arbiters.
For more detailed information:
IA Casto Abundo, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
and Dr. Alfred "Fred" Paez, e-Mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or you can call or text at mobile number: +63 912-272-8172.-Marlon Bernardino-