By Lynde Salgados
Correspondent

THE partially blind Mark Christian Evangelista and distaff counterpart Siena Mae Requiron today emerged as the early winners in the ongoing 2021 Philippine Sports Commission–Pilipinas Para Games (PPG) Online Chess Competition for people with disabilities.

Played across the country via Tornelo online format, the 1691 Evangelista bested a 16-man field that included the higher-rated Abraham Peligro (1750) as he played through unbeaten in five rounds to top the B2-Men category.

The unrated Requiron, on the other hand, ruled the B2-Women’s class with four of five performances.

Requiron yielded to Shirley Abogado but won over Marilou Lucero, Daryl Ann Higanto, and the rated pair of Regina Abogado (1664) and Alibelle Magno (1153) en route to sharing the PSC-backed tourney's crowning glory.

With only a single opponent in sight, Aime Dumagpi defeated twice Clarence Oreña, two-zero to claim the P1-Women’s top prize.

This, as the troika of Abegail Magno (1736), Kyla Jane Langue, and Yolanda Pespes all tallied four points in five rounds to go to the tiebreaker in determining the champion for the completely blind B1-Women division.

With only the sixth-round left in B1-Men and P1-Men, both Geronimo Torres and John Franz De Asis delivered a perfect five to take the solo lead in their respective divisions.

The completely blind Torres, after taking a bye in the opener, had asserted his dominance over Arix Dungan, John Erik Gonzaga, Romeo De Luna, and Emmanuel Closas Jr. While De Asis beat down in succession Apollo Cabilan, Sean Mervick Tiu, Rogelio Clemente, Sol Tiamzon and Ronnie Villa to arrange a thrilling last-round showdown with closest pursuer Eric Abanco (4.5 points).

The three-day event is inspired by the success of the country’s Para pawnpushers on the international stage, producing a first-ever Filipino world champion in the 2020 International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) titlist Fide Master Sander Severino and a fourth-place finish in the team competition of the recent 4th World Chess Championship.

“We are launching this project in a continued effort to address our need for a truly comprehensive grassroots sports development program for our para-athletes, and continuously harness their full potential,” said PSC Oversight Commissioner for para-athletes Arnold Agustin.