IM Yap secures Mandaue Chess Open crown

International Master Kim Steven Yap defeated Edcel Montoya in the ninth and final round last Sunday and won the Mandaue Mayor’s Cup Chess Open Tournament by a full point at the J Center Mall Activity Center.

Yap finished the tournament with 8.5 points and received P10,000. Fide Master Anthony Makinano followed at second place via tie-break over third placer Carlos Moreno III, who also had 7.5 points.

In the early rounds, Yap defeated Kim Sato, King James Torres, Mark Mangubat, NM Rogelio Enriquez Jr., Bryle Arellano and Allan Salientes then drew with erstwhile co-leader Fide Master Anthony Makinano in the seventh round before beating Bacolod’s Rommel Ganzon in the eighth and penultimate round.

Makinano, on the other hand, stumbled in Round 8 losing to Montoya before beating Venancio Loyola in the final round.

Montoya and Marc Alunan shared the fourth and fifth places after scoring 7.0 points each, while Erwin Ababat, NM Rommel Ganzon, NM Merben Roque, Rex Cabuncal, kiddie prodigy Rhenzi Kylle Sevillano and Diego Claro had 6.5 points each to share the 6th to 12th places.

The rest of the top 20 finishers were Felix Shaun Balbona, Rogelio Enriquez, Lemuel Montero, Venancio Loyola, Shawn Patrick Osorno, Carlito Flores, Bryle Arellano and King James Torres who all scored 6.0 points respectively.

A total of P33,000 in cash prizes were given to the top 20 finishers. /Correspondent Marlon bernardino