By Marlon Bernardino

Final Standings:

8.0 points---Vince Angelo Medina 

7.5 points---FM David Elorta, Henry Roger Lopez

7.0 points---GM Darwin Laylo, NM Rustum Tolentino, NM Levi Mercado, NM Joey Albert Florendo, Alfredo Rapanot Jr., Christopher Randolph Dalauta

6.5 points---Jaime Joshua Frias II, Jason Salubre, Philgymn Villajuan, Wil Maghanoy, Ben Polao

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY (NU) top player Vince Angelo Omal Medina won the overall title in the 2nd Mayor Jojo Palma and Atty.Titing Albano Rapid Open Chess Tournament held last Nov.4 and 5 at the Aim Coop Heroes Hall in Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur.

Medina, the pride of Cabuyao, Laguna , a Shell National Youtth Active Chess winner, a Palarong Pambansa gold medallist and former Asean Age group champion, defeated Jaime Joshua Frias II of Cagayan de Oro City in the last round to win the P30,000 top prize plus the elegant trophy.

He collected a total of 8.0 points in this two-day affair organized by Municipality of Aurora ZDS and Knights of the Square Table Mind Chess held in line with the Badak Festival celebration in Zamboanga del Sur which lured by 138 participants from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

With 7.5 points each, Fide Master David Elorta of San Andres Bukid, Manila and Henry Roger Lopez of Panabo City.

Elorta halved the point with NM Rustum Tolentino of Cagayan de Oro City while Lopez toppled Jason Salubre of Panabo City.

Elorta, a habitue of Guadalupe Chess Club, Makati received P20,000 for settling runner-up finish with a superior quotient over third place Lopez, a PARA games gold medallist who got P10,000. The duo also received elegant trophy.

Grandmaster Darwin Laylo of San Roque, Marikina, meantime led the huge group of 7.0 pointers that includes NM Rustum Tolentino and NM Levi Mercado of Cagayan de Oro City, NM Joey Albert Florendo of Zamboanga City, Alfredo Rapanot Jr. and Christopher Randolph Dalauta of Cagayan de Oro City.

In other matches saw, GM Laylo outpointed Joel Antonio Fernan of Cebu, NM Mercado waylaid Reynaldo Gempero Jr. of Davao City, NM Florendo edged FM Narquingden Reyes of Rodriguez, Rizal,  Rapanot Jr. subdued FM Victor Llutch and Dalauta upset NM Raymond Salcedo of Zamboanga City.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) director Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe won well-dressed award.

Tournament Director Wilhelm Joey D. Ardiente  supervised the tournament. He was assisted by Fide arbiter Lorenzo P. Cuizon Jr. and Ruben C. Cabading.-Marlon Bernardino-