INAUGURAL champion International Master Joel Pimentel of the Governor Henry S. Oaminal-backed chessfest in Misamis Occidental on Monday, November 4 returned in the 2nd Philippine Armageddon Battle of Champions with more fireworks to conquer a 10-man field loaded with four Filipino grandmasters.
The 32-year-old Pimentel, who won the maiden Asenso Misamis Occidental National Rapid Open Chess Tournament on July 8-9, 2023 at the Aya Hotel and Residences in Clarin, Misamis Occidental, placed runner-up behind Fide Master Alekhine Nouri in last year's debut of the Battle of Champions at the City Auditorium of Ozamiz.
Now held at the Asenso Misamis Occidental Sports and Cultural Center, Capitol Complex in Oroquieta City as preliminary of the 3rd Gov. Henry S. Oaminal Open Chess Festival, the former National Shell Active standout Pimentel was all fired up, playing under the probing eyes of defending champion Nouri and last year's fourth-placer FM Ellan Asuela, who both failed to cut the round-robin affair, using the blitz time control of six minutes for white and five minutes for black with no increment.
A determined Pimentel strung up five-straight wins over International Master Kim Steven Yap, GM Darwin Laylo, GM Rogelio Antonio Jr, FM Roel Abelgas, and IM Michael Concio Jr en route to winning the 2nd Battle of Champions at the expense of closest pursuer and his only conqueror IM Rolando Nolte, 23 against 22 points.
“Medyo agresibo at determinado akong manalo. Sa puso ko’t parang mi gusto akong patunayan kina Alekhine at Asuela na nagmamasid sa mga laro ko,” said Pimentel, from Escalante, Negros Occidental, the founding coach-trainer of BRD Chess Academy based in Lapu-lapu City, Cebu province.
Despite his impressive performance, Pimentel ― who dedicates his triumph to his partner Donna Mae Velasco who is set to undergo a surgical operation ― had almost missed the title glory after his sixth-round defeat at the hands of the grizzled Nolte.
This, was as Pimentel rebounded with two consecutive wins over IM Ronald Bancod and FM Christian Gian Carlo Arca before holding GM Quizon to a draw in the ninth and final round to win the championship by only one point.
“Hindi ko na hold ang quality down position laban kay Nolte kasi nagkaroon siya ng passed pawn. Pero si Quizon talaga ang pinaka mahigpit na kalaban. But after I got a pair of Bishops at the outset of the middlegame, draw na kaagad ang hanap ko para play safe,” Pimentel said.
But as if the universe conspired in favor of the youth, the seventh-round leader Nolte got ambushed in the penultimate 8th round by the country’s newest GM 20-year-old Quizon.
The third-running Quizon’s quest for title glory was hobbled by a painstaking loss to Arca right in the opening round due to technicality.
During the panic time, Quizon ― like in his won match against Nolte ― fell a piece twice in violation of the tournament’s rules, prompting Arca to call the arbiter’s attention and claim the victory.
At fourth place behind Pimentel (23 pts), Nolte (22), and Quizon (20) is FM Abelgas at 17 points, followed by Arca and Concio, at 16 points each, Antonio (10), Yap (6), Laylo (4) and Bancod (1).
