ANOTHER surprise greeted the avid fans of El Salvador City chess development.
This, after National Master Keith Adriane Ilar and two of his rising El Salvador compatriots made a sweeping 1-2-3 finish in 11 to 16 years old category of the recently-held Golden Chess Friends (GCF) Christmas Chess Tournament 2024 at Bulua City Mall in Cagayan de Oro City.
What was even more surprising was the multi-titled Ilar sharing first place with newcomer Eric Ryan Borbon at 19 points instead of the more seasoned Cassey Miguel Tabamo who landed at third with identical 18 points with the fourth-running Karl Augusto Xander Sayson of Gingoog City after the Bucholz tiebreaker.
"Bag-ong kaplag lang kini si Borbon, but because of the diligent training chess program of El Salvador daghan mga batan-on nadiskubrehan nga adunay chess talent," said Engr Resurrection Gunayan Jr in also acknowledging fellow DepEd chess trainer Tino Salabsab for El Salvador's youth chess breakthrough.
Ilar, Borbon, and Tabamo received P3,000, P2,000, and P1,000 plus medals, while fourth-placer Sayson got P800.
Klent Rayon and Luke Haden Albores registered 16 points to occupy fifth and sixth places with P600 and P400 cash prizes.
Rounding up the top 10 finishers are Han Calvin Abesamis, Arena Fide Master Janin Dhrey Querequere, Miykael Jerahmiel Lapad, and Clint Borres.
