Cebu’s Bitoon collars Mindanao Open title

Final Standings

7.5 pts. — IM Richard Bitoon, GM Roland Salvador, IM Oliver Dimakiling

7.0 pts. — GM JP Gomez, IM Yves Ranola, Jhonnel Balquin, Elias Banguiran, FM Mari Joseph Turqueza

6.5 pts. — FM Randy Segarra, NM Roel Filipinas

6.0 pts. — Maximo Ramos Jr., NM Reggie Olay, NM Macanana Macala, Vincent Umayan, Jayson Salubre, Vic Michael Artieda, Robert Toledo, Dominador Salazar, Noel Javier, Felipe Adlawan, Reynaldo Gempero Jr., Elgin Kah Meng Lee.

INTERNATIONAL MASTER Richard Bitoon of Medellin, Cebu edged GM Roland Salvador and IM Oliver Dimakiling in the tiebreak last Wednesday to emerge over-all champion of the first Gov. Emmylou “Lala” Talino-Mendoza Mindanao Open Chess Championship at the North Cotabato provincial capitol.

The 35-year-old, Makati City-based Bitoon with an ELO rating of 2491, tied with Salvador and Dimakiling with 7.5 points after nine rounds of action.

Bitoon however, bested them in the tiebreak to bring home the wooden championship trophy awarded by Gov. Talina-Mendoza and P25,000. Salvador and Dimakiling also got P25,000 each.

“This is a good tuneup for the KL Malaysia Open set this month,” said Bitoon, who needs only one more norm to earn his grandmaster title.

GM John Paul Gomez, IM Yves Ranola, Jhonnel Balquin, Elias Banguiran and FM Mari Joseph Turqueza scored 7.0 points to share 4th to 8th place while FM Randy Segarra and NM Roel Filipinas both had 6.5 points to share the 9th to 10th places.

GM Darwin Laylo finished with 6.0 points and tied with 12 others for 11th to 23rd spots including best junior performer Elgin Kah Meng Lee, 15, of Malaysia.

Laylo, who lost to Dimakiling in the penultimate round, was tied with Maximo Ramos Jr., NM Reggie Olay, Vincent Umayan, Jayson Salubre, Reynaldo Gempero Jr., Vic Michael Artieda, Robert Toledo, Dominador Salazar, Noel Javier, Felipe Adlawan III and Lee.

Also present during the awarding were over-all chairman Joey Recimilla, Kidapawan Chess Club Inc. president Dr. Ted Calica and National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) regional director James Infiesto.