INTERNATIONAL Master Joel Pimentel proved true to his top-seed billing when he ruled the Open division of the Asenso Misamis Occidental National Open Chess Tournament held over the weekend at Aya Hotel and Residences in Clarin, Misamis Occidental.
The 30-year-old Pimentel, a native of Bacolod who’s now based in Cebu City, racked up seven-straight wins including victories over 12-year-old National Master Keith Adriane Ilar and Johnnel Balquin of Misamis Oriental, NM Levi Mercado of Cagayan de Oro and fellow IM Angelo Young of Quezon City.
Brandishing an Elo rating of 2264, Pimentel played to safe draws with another Cagayan de Oro rival Nazario Ubanan, and Iligan City’s FiDE Master Victor Lluch in the last two rounds to score an impressive eight points in the nine-round FIDE-rated rapid tourney.
But it was not all rosy for the youthful Pimentel’s ascend to the crowning glory.
After his seventh-round win over the veteran Young, Pimentel immediately sought help from the assigned medics personnel to check on his blood pressure.
“Medyo may konting misunderstanding between me and IM Young in the course of our crucial encounter kaya parang tumaas ang BP ko,” Pimentel later told Gold Star Daily.
The atmosphere, however, eventually changed, rubbing positive vibes to everyone after the arrival of Misamis Occidental’s first district Governor Henry Oaminal Sr. who announced that he will double all the tournament prizes.
From P30,000, Pimentel snagged a total amount of P60,000 top purse plus the championship trophy.
“Lipay kaayo tanan players bisan ang mga kolelat nga very supportive sa mga nandaug. Even ako na sorpresa sa pronouncement ni gov nga doblehon ang premyo,” said tournament organizer AGM Rey Urbiztondo.
The sixth-seeded Balquin (2191) meanwhile recovered from his only loss to Pimentel as he strung up three-straight wins and agreed to a truce with Ubanan in the final round to catch up Young (2197), Mercado (2194), Ubanan (2062) and FM Lluch (2252) at 7.5 points.
A lucky tiebreak propelled Balquin to second place with a P40,000 take-home. While Young, Mercado, Ubanan, and Lluch ― who shared third to sixth places ― got P30,000, P20,000, P10,000, and P4,000 each plus medals.
Completing the top 10 finishers are Cagayan de Oro’s Lyndon Lumancas, Misamis Oriental’s Joven Berondo, and Pagadian City’s Jezreel Lopez.
Named as the top 10 Misamis Occidental performers were Gilbert Baba (Ozamiz), Johnny Wellen Carzano (Tangub), Lexis Bruce Portacion (Sapang Dalaga), Archalaus Turbo (Ozamiz), Alger Palanas (Sinacaban), Richard Tuquib (Calamba), Shoje Navarro (Clarin), Noel Arabia (Ozamiz), Jesus Bebat (Calamba), and Roy Ronald Roa (Oroquieta).
Category prize winners are Mardonio Fuentes (Misamis Occidental), Jesson Bolando (Oroquieta), and Anna Marie Saldo (Ozamiz) as a top senior, top unrated, and top lady, respectively.
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