Balquin nearly steals Pimentel’s crowning glory in Oro chess tilt

LOCAL pride Johnnel Balquin was smelling upset when he crossed paths again with his former conqueror International Master Joel Pimentel in the penultimate round of the series-ending episode of the nationwide Rising Chess Unlimited hosted by Cagayan de Oro, over the weekend, at the Limketkai Mall.

Despite playing with the black side of a King’s Indian duel, the tactical genius Balquin managed to gain the upper hand in the middlegame intricacies. But just a slight inaccuracy in his offensive moves allowed the Bacolod native Pimentel to escape with a draw en route to winning the day-long rapid tourney’s Individual Open championship.

“He (Balquin) had the advantage in the middlegame but missed the winning continuation. He lost the exchange in a tricky endgame but my light Bishop was not enough to win the match against his King on the dark square corner of the board,” said the 30-year-old Pimentel, who is now based in Cebu City.

Pimentel and Balquin also made a 1-2 finish during the Asenso Misamis Occidental National Open Chess Tournament last July in Clarin, Misamis Occidental.

The only difference was the top-seed Pimentel (2403 local rapid rating) completely dominated the third-seed Balquin (2275) in their head-on clash in Misamis Occidental.

Over at Ketkai, both hurdled their respective matches in the ninth and final round with Pimentel outlasting fellow Bacolodnon in second seed Fide Master Ellan Asuela (2307) and Balquin outmaneuvering Surigao bet Rhenz Rheann Auza.

Pimentel amassed 25 points in the nine-round Swiss tourney using the Sofia rules to snag the championship trophy and the P5,000 top purse.

The 40-something Balquin, currently a Job Order worker under the Provincial Sports Development Office of Misamis Oriental, garnered 23 points for the runner-up prize of P3,000.

Little-known Brandly Tan from Jasaan, Misamis Oriental stunned the fifth-seed FM Nelson Villanueva (2227) of Bacolod to hike his Sofia score to 22 points for the second runner-up prize of P2,000.

Completing the top-16 finishers out of 160 participants are Auza, Nazario Ubanan, David Rey Ancheta, Jeff Russell Rivera, and Roland Sajetarios with 21 points each; FM Asuela (20 pts) and Abdul Halil Abdullah, 4th seed FM Victor Bruce Lluch (2227), Cosain Magarang, Janalan Marohomsalic, Mario Arroyo, Faisal Amanggay and FM Villanueva with 19 points apiece.

Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo, the Rising Chess Unlimited chief organizer, said Pimentel and the rest of the RCU series champions will have the privilege of a free registration fee come the much-awaited Ozamiz 8 in 1 Grand Chess Festival set on November 10-12 at the City Auditorium of Ozamiz City.