TEAM Red Arya Chess II, powered by the perfect score of Rhenz Rheann Auza on board 2, emerged as the winningest participant in the Congressman Rufus Rodriguez-backed Fédération Internationale des Échecs (Fide) Chess Tournament concluded here on Sunday, January 29 at the Barangay Nazareth gym.
Also anchored by Perpetual Help Altas senior varsity player Romeo Canino on board 1 and Danilo Obeso Jr on board 3 with Rejie Salise as team manager, the Red Arya chessers swept their first five matches equivalent to a commanding 10 match points.
The efforts were but enough for them to pocket the solo P50,000 top purse and the championship trophy with one round to spare in the Tatluhan (three boards) team competition of the 4th Congressman Rufus Rodriguez and 1st Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez Fide Rapid Chess Tournament.
“Producing six of six (performances) on board 2 made this event very memorable for me. I can’t ask for more,” the Surigao pride Auza, who came here to play alongside Cagayan de Oro’s Canino and Obeso, proudly told Gold Star Daily.
Red Arya’s early round tiff with Patsada of Fide Master Nelson Villanueva, Jeff Russell Rivera, and Naphtali Wabe proved to be their luckiest break.
This, as the middlegame intricacies left the quick-moving Obeso about to be checkmated by the black player in two moves during a panic time situation.
But with only 10 seconds left on his clock, a jittery Wabe apparently failed to spot the winning continuation, thus allowing Obeso and his Red Arya to escape with a thrilling 2-1 triumph.
“Kadto gyod nga dula ang nakadala’g s'werte sa ila. Sa wrong square pa gyod nga pang-mate nabutang ni Koykoy (Wabe) iyang Rook naka-counter check pa hinoon ang Queen sa kontra,” were his teammates’ remarks.
In the 6th and final round when all the closest pursuers were left with no choice but to battle for the second prize honors, Alamid defeated Red Arya, 2-1 to catch up with the LGU-Malaybalay and Misamis Oriental Warriors ― winners over RSuico Chess Team and Aqua Eternal, respectively ― for the second pack edge.
However, the LGU-Malaybalay of Randolph Christopher Dalauta, Bryan Jose, and Cassey Miguel Tabamo, the Misamis Oriental Warriors of Johnnel Balquin, Quarl Maverick Vera Cruz, and Keith Adriane Ilar and Team Alamid of Jaime Joshua Frias II, Joseph Maestrado, and Clement Valledor have to equally divide among themselves the pooled prizes of P95,000 for second up to fourth places (after the tiebreaker) for coming up with similar nine match points.
“You will learn from your blunder. Rest assured that our chess programs will continue in our unified search for future chess grandmasters,” said Cong. Rodriguez is closing the two-day chessfest ruled by FM Ellan Asuela and Tabamo on Saturday’s conduct of the Individual Open and 14-under kiddies rivalry.
The RnBKnights’ Jeriel Manlimbana (six of six), Red Arya’s Auza (six of six), and Misamis Oriental Warriors’ Ilar (six of six) also received P1,000 apiece plus medals for taking the individual golds on boards 1, 2, and 3.
