OZAMIZ City ― The challengers failed to flip over the script from last year as Northern Mindanao went on to cement its reputation as one of the country's potent breeding grounds and virtual homes of intrepid chess champions.
Repeating its performance in 2024, the Northern Mindanao outplayed the Rest of Mindanao, even as the combined Mindanao talents overpowered anew the Visayas side on Saturday night's appetizer of the ongoing 5th Asenso Ozamiz Fide-Rated Open Chess Tournament at the City Gymnasium here.
"Maybe it's true because there's no significant changes from last year. Northern Mindanao is really stacked with chess talents young and old alike," enthused tournament organizer Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo.
In 20-board showdown, Northern Mindanao defeated the Rest of Mindanao by three points in the opening salvo for blitz skirmishes. And despite the unbeaten performance of Davao's top gun on board one in World blitz champion Christian Gian Karlo Arca, the NorMin chessers managed to hang on in the Rapid duel at 20-all with the senior pair of International Master Angelo Young and Jokorn Maestrado prevailing and the age groupers led by Maverick Vera Cruz and Palaro standout Janin Dhrey Querequere making the big difference.
Arca, who finished runner-up in the Battle of Champions, did not play for Mindanao against the Fide Master Alekhine Nouri-led Visayas, but the results were even more decisive in the winner-take-all challenge.
Mindanao, also powered by the likes of Johnnel Balquin, Nazario Ubanan, Johnny Carzano, the father and son Allan and Aljie Cantonjos and Air force men Lennon Hart Salgados, Raymond Salcedo and Alfred Rapanot, scored heavily in blitz, 13-5 and wrapped up the ego-boosting match up in rapid at 23-13 for an overwhelming total finish of 36 points against 18.
Normin team will pocket P20,000, while Mindanao will earn P30,000 plus trophies in their back-to-back victories, respectively.
