INSTALLED as the top seed with his 2394 elo rating, Cagayan de Oro’s Johnnel Balquin did not disappoint as he led the opening day winners of the Philippine National Mactan Open Chess Championship on Thursday night in Mactan, Cebu.
Balquin’s compatriots from the City of Gold ― Antonio Chavez, Jr, Alfredo Rapanot, Carlomagno Rosaupan, and Jaime Joshua Frias ll ― also hurdled the preliminary matches along with International Master Angelo Young, Fide Master Roel Abelgas, Woman International Master Bernadette Galas, and 11 others.
“Ang problema kay unay d’retso ang Cagayan de Oro boys kay pulos man daug,” said Frias who will face Balquin with white in the second round.
Frias is known as the tormentor of Balquin in local chess rivalry.
“Patay walay amigohay basta mag-atbang ‘mi sa chess,” said Frias, whose chess career blossomed when he ruled the challenger’s division of the Dubai Open and Australian Open some two years ago.
Meanwhile, upset rocked in the premier 2021 Philippine National Chess Championships also held at the Solea Hotel and Resort.
In a shocking start, the youthful IM Paulo Bersamina defeated the 13-time Philippine Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio ‘Joey’ Antonio, Jr.
Handling white, Bersamina needed 37 moves to force the resignation of the 59-year-old Antonio in his pet Caro-Kann defense.
“I hope to perform well in this event and gain some elo rating points,” said the 23-year-old Bersamina, who is chasing a GM title.
The other veteran IM Ricardo de Guzman took a different route as he defeated the much younger IM Michael Concio Jr in 63 moves of the Trompovsky Opening.
Other matches saw youthful IMs Daniel Quizon and Joel Pimentel prevailing over IM John Marvin Miciano and the non-titled Allan Pason, respectively.
The country’s lone Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna drew with IM Garcia, as well as GM Darwin Laylo opposite the experienced IM Ronald Dableo.
The 11-round tournament also stakes a berth to the national squad bound for the 2023 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Thailand, plus a champion’s purse worth P80,000.
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