by Marlon Bernardino
Quezon City---FIDE Master (FM) Noel Dela Cruz defeated 31 other players in the knockout Armageddon system held at the IIEE Building in Cubao, Quezon City on Monday, July 29, 2024.
He advanced to the finals against Lee Roi Palma after winning alongside Jed Monzon, Julian Paul Querubin, NM Marlon Bernardino and Andrew Elpedes. He won the top prize of P3,000 while runner up Palma got P1,500.
"'I am very happy with the results. I am extremely satisfied with the outcome," said Barangay Olympia, Makati City resident Dela Cruz who was a former top player of San Sebastian College – Recoletos Manila in the presence of coach NM Homer Cunanan.
Prominent players who participated in the mini-tournament were IM Angelo Young, IM Jose Efren Bagamasbad, NM Edmundo Gatus, NM Romeo Alcodia, Atty Rodolfo Enrique Rivera and Abraham Tecson.
Special guests at the event were Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) President and Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria and Rotary Club Bacoor City Sunrise District 3810 President Mary France Lodronio organized by IIEE branding committee adviser Allan Anthony Alvarez, Chairman Menandro Lim, Vice Chairman Ervin Fernandez and Secretary Lea Pueca.
Lucky draw winners of paintings from Sentro Artista are IIEE Jessie Oclarit who won the "Mother and Child" painting by Mylene Quito and Import Francis Esleban who won the "Musikero" painting by Angelito Antonio.
The event was part of the awarding ceremony for the IIEE National Chess Olympiad season 5 which started on February 2 and ended on July 20, 2024 where IIEE Mindanao captured its crown for the 3rd season while IIEE Quezon won the in-season tournament championship. The Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) still led against the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineer (IIEE) Mindanao team, 22-13, with less than 25 minutes remaining when Abdul Halil Abdullah II scored 12 of his 16 points to win it's for Mindanao, 30-22. Overall, IIEE Mindanao was led by Jemuel Calo who scored a total of 65 points for the entire tournament winning the 20x30 inches painting of "dancing of Life" by Medardo S. Olaco. Among the top 5 scorers for the team are Abdul, Arjun Crisologo, Elmer Claveria and Jerick Rendon. It was a tough road for IIEE Mindanao as they won all preliminary 4 games against other IIEE Super regions Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and foreign regions then lost all 4 in-season games when play as separate teams in the class as IIEE Cagayan de Oro (CDO), IIEE Socsargen-Davao, IIEE Northern Mindanao and IIEE Southwest Mindanao so they only ended up as the 2nd seed behind the IIEE Foreign region flagged by NM Noel Dela Cruz, the best import of the tournament won the 36x48 inches painting “Dasig” by RJ Rey A. Buriat. In the playoffs, PICE defeated IIEE Foreign and IIEE Bicol while IIEE Mindanao fell to the Institute of Electronic Engineers of the Philippines (IECEP) and IIEE Metro Manila which earlier defeated elimination leader Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineer (PSME).
In the in-season tournament, IIEE Quezon avenged their only loss of the tournament against IIEE Iloilo, 25-15 as the team was led by IM Michael Concio and Anatoly Pascua. In their semi-final conquest of season 1 Champion IIEE Southern Laguna, the team was led by Concio, Pascua, FM Mark Bacojo and IM Daniel Quizon. Other notable imports are IM Jose Efren Bagamasbad, IM Angelo Young, IM Barlo Nadera, FM Steven Breckenridge, FM Nelson Mariano III, NM Marlon Bernardino, NM Jose Aquino, NM Nicomedes Alisangco, NM Marc Nazario, NM Rommel Ganzon, NM Fritz Bryan Porras, NM John Cyrus Borce, NM Ronald Llavanes, NM Glennen Artuz, NM Alvin Alcala, NM Oberio Aglipay and NM John Michael Silvederio. -Marlon Bernardino-
Caption Ceremonial Moves Photo:
from left to right:
8-time Illinois USA champion, IM Angelo Young (left), shakes hands with IIEE branding Chairman Engr. Menandro Lim, before making ceremonial steps to start the mini-tournament (knockout Armageddon system) in the IIEE National Chess Olympiad Season 5 awarding of team champions IIEE Mindanao and IIEE Quezon held at the IIEE Building in Cubao, Quezon City on Monday, on July 29, 2024 .
Others in the photo are Atty. Rodolfo Enrique Rivera, Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) President and Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria, IM Jose Efren Bagamasbad, IIEE Chessmaster Chairman Eric Frigillana, Artist KC De Guzman, IIEE Branding Secretary Lea Pueca, Rotary President Mary France Lodronio and IIEE National Past President Engr. Allan Anthony Alvarez.
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Award Photo Caption:
From left are IIEE Branding Vice Chairman Engr. Ervin Fernandez, IIEE Branding Chair