by Marlon Bernardino
Lipa City, Batangas---Team Seirin topped the open division of the JCI Senate Lipa Open Rapid chess team tournament at the Lipa City Convention Center on Monday, June 17, 2024, here.
Country's newest FIDE Master Ivan Travis Cu anchored the Team Seirin' campaign together with Tyrhone James Tabernilla and Zeus Alexis Paglinawan.
International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia is coach of the team.
Team Seirin finished with seven points based on the match point-style scoring system being used by the organizing JCI Senate Lipa to rule the one-day rapid chess meet, being held in celebration of Lipa City Foundation Day.
Team Seirin received P50,000 , trophy and medals for their efforts in this event backed up by Mayor Eric Africa, former Vice-Mayor Kuya Boy Manguerra and Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers - PSME past president Engr. Roger Reyes.
Team Seirin defeated Blahlala, 3-0, in the first round, Team Gold Eagle, 2-1, in the second round, UST Team F, 2.5-0.5, in the third round, Team Pakners, 2.5-0.5, in the fourth round, UST Team B, 2-1, in the fifth round, Tira-Tira Sampaloc C, 2.5-0.5, in the sixth round and The Teddy Bears, 2-1, in the seventh and final round.
"Truly a team effort," said the 15-year-old Cu, a grade 10 student of Xavier School in San Juan City who is fresh from second-place finish last month in Hanoi IM (International Master) chess tournament in Vietnam, where he should earn the FIDE Master title.
Cu tallied 5.5 points in board 1, Tabernilla chipped in 4.5 points in board 2 while Paglinawan notch 6.5 points in board 3.
UST Team A (Mark Gerald Reyes, Carl Daluz and Allan Gabriel Hilario) finished second followed by Tira-Tira Sampaloc C (Kelly Rancalp, Narciso Gumila and Timothy Baclayon).
Rounding up to the top 10 are Team Red Horse (fourth), The Teddy Bears (fifth), UST Team F (sixth), Santa Rosa Lions B (seventh), Team Pakners (eight), Sir Nats Team A (ninth) and Team Larry Dumadag (tenth).
Meanwhile, Rian Paul Tenorio won the Youth Division (Under 18 Years Old) followed by Ariel Santander and Clyde Jared Torena.
Earlier, Mayor Eric Africa and Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre made the ceremonial moves kicking off the one-day tournament also graced by Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers - PSME past president Engr. Roger Reyes, International Master Roderick Nava of Kamatyas Chess Club, Chief Arbiter Ryan Dimayuga, Deputy Arbiter Allan OseƱa, 13 time Philippine Open Champion Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr., former Vice-Mayor Kuya Boy Manguerra and tournament director Engr. Danilo "Danny" Reyes.-Marlon Bernardino-
Photo shows
from left Mascot Ampen, Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers - PSME past president Engr. Roger Reyes, Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre, country's newest FIDE Master Ivan Travis Cu , Tyrhone James Tabernilla, Zeus Alexis Paglinawan, tournament director Engr. Danilo "Danny" Reyes and Mr. Gary Malabanan.