EDEN DIANO leads the cast of four qualifiers who will clash against some of the country’s best wood pushers today in the Cebu City Masters FIDE Championships at the Cebu City Library and at the Deep Blue Chess Club in SM City Cebu.
Diano topped the qualifying tournament held at the OPASCOR building over the weekend.
Diano scored a total of six points after seven rounds of competition.
Rogelio Enriquez Jr. placed second with 5.5, the same output with Richard Natividad and Rommel Ganzon, who also qualified.
The four qualifiers will join the six FIDE-rated players in the championships. The six are International Master (IM) Enrico ‘Econg’ Sevillano, IM Steven Kim Yap, National Master (NM) Eric Gloria, Voltaire Sevillano, Anthony Makinano and National Master Merben Roque.
This tournament is organized by the Cebu Chess Federation and sponsored by the Cebu City Government.
Meanwhile, the top kiddies performer Diego Claro almost made it to the elite group as he placed 5th among the men competitors.
He was awarded P500 for being the top Kiddies player and P300 for being the fifth placer. The winner in the ladies category was Marvie Labucay. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL