by Marlon Bernardino
THE Far Eastern University (FEU) chess team lived up to expectations and bagged the 6th Red Kings Chess Tournament dubbed as Open Doubles Team Chess Championship held at the Multipurpose Hall, Meralco Fitness Center, Meralco Compound, Ortigas Avenue in Pasig City, over the weekend (April 22, 2018) broadcasted live worldwide through the YouTube and Facebook channel of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

Playing under the tutelage of multi-titled coach Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, the FEU Tamaraws woodpushers composed of Board 1 National Master (NM) John Merill Jacutina and Board 2 Istraelito Rilloraza won P14,000 cash prize after tallying 13.5 points in the Nine-round Swiss System format chessfest.

Rilloraza adjudged Board 2 Gold medallist scorring 8.5 out of 9 points an almost perfect performance with 1 draw and 8 wins.

The second place in the chessfest went to Team Bravo/Philippine Army who won P8,000 after scoring 13.0 points in the chessfest.

The Team Bravo/Philippine Army team is made up of board 1 International Master (IM) Joel Pimentel and board 2 Mark Bravo.

Pimentel won Board 1 Gold Medalist after accumulating 7 wins and 2 draws with a total output of 8 out of 9 points.

The third place went to Bank of Philippine Island (BPI) Chess Team which is composed of board 1 National Master (NM) Nick Nisperos and board 2 Jovert Valenzuela.

The BPI Chess Team (12.5 points) won P6,000 as cash prize in the chessfest.

According to tournament organizer Fide Master (FM) Nelson "Elo" Mariano II, A total of 59 Teams , 28 Titled Players, 100+ Players from different Schools, Univesities and Companies who joined in this event ,Four (4) Digital Game Technology (DGT) was used for this event courtesy of Philippine Executive Chess Champion Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe.

"Thank you Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe for the 4 DGT Boards to make this event to be more prestigious," said Elo, younger brother of Grandmaster (GM) Nelson Mariano and Woman International Master (WIM) Cristine Rose Mariano-Wagman.

Tournament Director is Fide National Arbiter Alexander "Alex" Dinoy while Chief Arbiter is International Arbiter Gene Poliarco assisted by National Arbiter Alfredo Chay and National Arbiter Christian Javier.-Marlon Bernardino