BEST remembered for winning twice in a row the Governor Henry Oaminal-backed tourney’s top Misamis Occidental citation that earned him P100,000 cash, journeyman Rodney Opada emerged as the biggest prize winner in the just-held Cagayan de Oro Christmas Chess Tournament 2024 at Bulua City Mall.
Although Opada, 39, finished just runner-up behind eventual champion Lennon Hart Salgados in the Individual Rapid Open to receive P5,000, his RJR threesome with Joseph Maestrado and Ricky Echalico in the premier ‘tatluhan’ blitz team rivalry garnered the top honors, making the three of them P30,000 richer.
In the penultimate sixth-round, Opada brought down on board one duel no less than Mindanao’s top non master Johnnel Balquin whose flag fell in time trouble as RJR vaulted to the top en route to collecting a title-clinching 19 points under the Sophia rules.
“Again, I’m with my lucky pink shirt that I wore in the Oaminal chessfest in Oroquieta City. I think there’s something in it nga swerte sa atong paningkamot nga maka gatas,” Opada told Gold Star Daily.
Balquin’s G7 Spot Eats & Beats team with kiddie siblings Jaden Cedric and Jan Calvin Abesamis ended up in a tie with NJCO Master Builders (Randolph Christopher Dalauta, Arena International Master Paul Omongos, Luke Haden Albores) at 16 points and placed second and third after the Bucholz tiebreaker to pocket P20,000 and P10,000 each also with trophies.
Donzel 07-A composed of David Rey Ancheta, Rey Uy, and Jake Riddick Sabordo, and Jessie Villasin Knights made up of Johnny Wellen Carzano, Cassey Miguel Tabamo, and Angelo Ray Tabanag got the better tiebreak results among the teams that scored 15 points to complete the top-five finishers and settled for P5,000 and P3,000 apiece.
