RISING star Christian Gian Karlo Arca of Davao del Norte picked his second-straight win to lead the perfect scorers of the ongoing Fide-Rated chess tourney at the Limketkai Mall, here.
The 13-year-old Arca, who brought four golds for the country in the recent Asean Age-Group chessfest in Bangkok, Thailand, demolished local bet Roland Sajetarios after 33 moves of the London System.
The Barra, Opol pride Sajetarios was unbeaten in the just-concluded 1st Lumbia Mindanao Open as he powered the eventual team champion Donzel 07 to bag the gold medal on board 3.
But against the white-wielding Arca, the experienced Sajetarios stands no chance in the middlegame intricacies where the teener calmly promoted a pawn for his second Queen to settle the match.
“I think naligaw lang si kuya di niya kabisado ang variation na ginamit ko,” the newly-elect Fide Master Arca told Gold Star Daily.
Cagayan de Oro’s Johnnel Balquin also posted a perfect two points after a marathon duel with the solid-playing Fr. Vic Arellano, and so National Masters David Elorta of Manila and Rommel Ganzon of Cebu.
Others matches are still in progress in the Mr. & Mrs. Leo G. Wabe Sr Individual Standard Open and Team Tatluhan Blitz which stakes a total of P200,000 in cash prizes plus trophies and medals.
