by Marlon Bernardino

THAILAND blitz chess king Alvin Roma once again is at the top of his game after winning the Barangay San Martin De Porres Chess Festival dubbed as sportsman Melecio C. Advincula III Chess Cup last Saturday at the Barangay San Martin De Porres, Barangay Hall in Cubao, Quezon City.

The ex-National University (NU) standout player Roma who is best to remember by winning some tough tournament in  Tarlac province, San Mateo and Montalban, Rizal , Metro Manila as well in Thailand scored 6.5 points on six wins and a draw to bring home the P3,000 top purse plus the elegant trophy.

Roma's casualties include Zaldy Rojas, Dr. Arnold De Vera and Kiev Calungsod, respectively.

He split the points with former UST mainstay Steven James Dacanay in the fourth then beat Rolly Jon Baliwang in the 5th , Lyndon Villarasa in the 6th and Eric Acosta in the 7th and final round.

Steven James Dacanay and Genghis Imperial shared second to third spots with identical 5.5 points to equally divide the pooled prizes of P3,000. The duo also received elegant trophy from Barangay kagawad Mercedes Docel and kagawad Evelyn Pelaez who led the closing rites.

At solo fourth place is PUP top ace Jeremias Ygot who got 5.0 points.

Fifth to seventh places with 4.5 points each were Rolly Jon and Mark Jhon Baliwang and Chris Dacanay.

In other matches saw, Jake Espinosa waylaid Danny Gallo, Arturo Santos nipped DR. Arnold De Vera, Richard Catindoy crushed Veronica Dhel Dacanay, Zaldy Rojas dealt Magnus Carlsen Sidaya-Roma, Joey Straight won via default over Leonard Cabreros, Chris Dacanay prevailed over Lyndon Villarasa, Jeremias Ygot outpointed Edmund Ruiz, Mark Jhon Baliwan upset Kiev Calungsod.

Meanwhile, youngest participants is three-years-old Magnus Carlsen Sidaya-Roma who currently holds the distinction being youngest player in the world. He is pursuing youngest Grandmaster title in history. Lone female entry is UST bet Veronica Dhel Dacanay. -Marlon Bernardino-