IT turned out the sponsors and organizers were lucky for having a strong cast despite putting just a minimal budget in the ongoing 1st TambaNipa Festival Open Chess Tournament in Barangay Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro City.
“Mora ma’g nag-import ang Bonbon kay kusog man kaayo ang field. Players that we used to see in the country’s big chess events nakaabot gyod dire,” a visibly surprised local bet Jokorn Maestrado told Gold Star Daily.
Fide Master Ellan Asuela, twice champion in Singapore, came to vie for a total of P10,000 in cash prizes, and so former Palarong Pambansa gold medalist Lennon Hart Salgados and his fellow National Shell Active titlist Bryan Jose.
Also in the field are Ozamiz City chess king Johnny Wellem Carzano, Arena Grandmaster Lyndon Lumancas, Arena Fide Master Benoni Wabe and the battle-tested Mario Arroyo, Rodney Opada, Jashfer Gonzales, Basilio Pandan Jr, Bobby Salomon and Randolph Christopher Dalauta as well as the dangerous pair of erstwhile Far Eastern University (FEU) varsity mainstays Jeff Russell Rivera and Kristian Glen Abuton.
All of them were able to hurdle their opening round matches in the seven-round Swiss System rapid chess competition.
Barangay Bonbon chairwoman Lelit Baal-Molina, who did the ceremonial moves alongside Kagawad Lope Matildo, vowed to support chess development in the locality by endorsing the regular inclusion of chess in the annual TambaNipa Festival’s program of activities.
“Not only in chess, basketball and volleyball but a variety of sports events nga atong makita nga angay'ng suportahan,” was the sports-loving Baal-Molina’s assurance.
