ALWAYS lurking in the shadow of the big guns, luck finally bumped into the orbit of former national age-group standout Randolph Christopher ‘Dodoy’ Dalauta.
This is after the barangay Patag pride Dalauta emerged as the surprise winner of the star-studded 2nd El Salvador Fide Rated Open Rapid Chess Tournament 2025, held over the weekend at the City Hall Front Lobby of El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental.
“Luck ra gyod ako maingon kay sa tiebreak ra nagdaug,” Dalauta later told Gold Star Daily.
“That’s why it’s essential to have trust in yourself and be proud of the moment for playing with the biggest names in the region,” added Dalauta, now based in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, for seizing the P5,000 top purse and the championship trophy.
In fact, Dalauta may have no chance at all to steal the show, even with his last-round victory over Nazario Ubanan that earned him a total of six points in the seven-round Swiss System tourney.
Dalauta was only expecting a top-three finish after peeking on the top board which saw solo leader Johnny Wellem Carzano (5.5 points) of Ozamiz City enjoying a one-piece advantage opposite Johnnel Balquin (five points) of Cagayan de Oro.
Balquin was still losing after Carzano gave up a piece when he misplayed the middlegame intricacy. But to everyone’s great bewilderment, Carzano failed to execute a simple Rook takes Knight exchange sacrifice that will promote his pawn to Queen in the endgame.
“Yes, I’m completely winning pero dili nako gusto pildihon si Balquin. I was thinking nga champ na ko maskin draw kay abi nako’g mas taas akong tiebreak,” bared Carzano who settled for the runner-up prize of P3,000.
Balquin finished third and received P2,000, while home ground bet National Master Keith Adriane Ilar and Fide Master Raymond Salcedo of Zamboanga City, winners against Bryan Jose and Arena Fide Master Benoni Wabe in the seventh and final round, got P1,000 and P700 for fourth and fifth places, respectively, also with medals.
Rounding up the top-10 finishers with P500 take-home each is Arena Grandmaster Julius Dan Augustine Ablin of Iligan City, Jose, Ubanan, Roland Sajetarius, and Rodney Opada.
