OZAMIZ City ― The saying “old is gold” was manifested anew in the cash-rich 5th Asenso Ozamiz Fide-Rated Open Chess Tournament concluded last Sunday, July 13, at the City Gymnasium here.
After the 63-year-old Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr dominated both the side event Battle of Philippine Champions and the premier Open division to go home P150,000 richer, another senior citizen shared the spotlight in International Master Angelo Young.
The Philippine National junior champion in 1982, Young ― who represented Ozamiz as his wife hailed in Tangub City ― scored 6.5 points to share seven to 13th places in the Open category, apart from playing undefeated as senior representative for Northern Mindanao’s repeat over the Rest of Mindanao, and the solid Mindanao’s triumphant grudge rematch with the Visayas team over 20 boards.
Last Sunday night’s awarding ceremony, Young chose to forego his top eight finish in the Open rivalry and chose instead the Top MisOcc citation worth a whopping P40,000 cash and a big trophy.
“We’re proud of him for embracing Tangub City, Ozamiz City, and the province of Misamis Occidental as his family home in Mindanao; he always finds time to be with us to compete here every year,” said organizer Rey Urbiztondo of the amiable Young.
Young finished in a tie with 2023 and 2024 top MisOcc awardee, Rodney Opada, with six wins and a draw in nine rounds. But his superior tiebreak results, 49-48, effectively dislodged the Tangub City pride Opada to second place.
Opada collared the runner-up prize of P24,000. Third placer Elizer Licay, owner of the highest tiebreak among 6 pointers, snagged P10,000.
Fourth and fifth placers Mark Lloyd Sy and Carlo Saludsod received P6,000 each.
The rest of the top 10 finishers, Johnny Wellem Carzano, Gilbert Baba, Mardonio Fuentes, Junpril Sage Castro, and Richard Cenas, settled for P2,000 apiece.
The Philippine women’s team’s Bernadette Galas (6.5 points), Ruelle Canino (six pts), and Paciano Gulle Jr (5.5 pts) of Cagayan de Oro were adjudged as top female, top junior, and top senior, respectively. They got P6,000 each.
The top five Misamis Occidental players for high school level are Deric Herald Jornales (six points), who took the gold and P10,000 cash, Philipp Samonte II (5.5 pts), Aron John Pitos (5.5 pts), Rjay Brylle Iyog (5.5 pts), and Paul Benedict Arapoc (five pts), who pocketed P6,000, P4,000, P2,000, and P1,000 each.
The top lady is Cyreine Jean Borce, who finished with 6.5 points and went home P6,000 richer.
