CAGAYAN de Oro’s Johnnel Balquin showed that he’s still one of the best pawnpushers in Mindanao by winning the recent chess competition in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte.
The grizzled Balquin scored 1.5 points in the last two rounds to emerge as solo champion in the 5th Mayor Darel Dexter T. Uy P’gsalabuk Chess Cup held on the Ground Floor of Museo Dipolog, last weekend.
Balquin bested Allan Cantonjos of Gingoog City in the sixth and penultimate round then split the point with 1996 Philippine Junior Champion in Fide Master Robert Suelo Jr. of Quezon City in the seventh and final round to assure himself of the crowning glory.
He finished with 6.5 points on account of six wins and one draw in the seven-round Swiss system tournament organized by the Dipolog City Chess Association headed by its president Ronald Truno Solon and tournament director Michel Jackson Ambuang in cooperation with Busog 28 CEO Michael ‘Mike’ Tamonan, Mam Cendy Magallanes, Ranell Cendy Ticketing, and former Vice Mayor Bebs Cheng.
Balquin waxed hot early, defeating in succession local boys Ranzeth Marco Magallanes and Joselito Rojas, Manila-based National Master Quirino Sagario, Cebu City’s Allan Salientes, and Zambo NM Joey Albert Florendo.
Balquin brought home the lion’s share of the P20,000 top purse as Florendo, Rodney Opada of Cagayan de Oro City and Suelo shared from second to fourth places with similar six-point outputs to receive P10,000, P8,000, and P5,000 each.
Jan Francis Mirano of Aklan, Cantonjos and Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe of Pagadian City got P3,000 P1,000 and P1,000 for winding up fifth to seventh places at 5.5 points.
Rounding up the top-17 list with five points to show are Judge and Fide Master Rosendo Bandal Jr, Julius Dan Augustine Ablin, Madronio Fuentes, Marian Calimbo, Mhilter Edombingo, NM Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr., John Cyrus Borce, Geronimo Romarate, Rocky Rocamora, and NM Levi Martuna.
