FIDE Master Ellan Asuela led the Cagayan leg qualifiers of the first-ever Singapore Chess Festival Qualifying Chess Tournament held on Saturday, January 27 at the 2nd Floor of the Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City.
The multi-titled Asuela, best remembered for winning the Kasparov Chess Foundation Asia-Pacific (KCFAP) Absolute Challenge in 2022 at the Peace Centre in Singapore, scored 17 points to dominate the Open category of the rapid chessfest under the newly-formed chess group of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Sharing the Cagayan de Oro-based Asuela with the limelight are junior champion Cassey Miguel Tabamo of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; kiddies titlist Sebastian Marbas and Cagayan de Oro compatriot Basilio Pandan who topped the senior (50 and older) division.
All the Cagayan leg champions received P2,000 cash each plus medals from the organizing Golden Chess Friends.
Tournament director Benoni Wabe told Gold Star Daily that the top four performers in each category will compete with the other Mindanao regional qualifiers this coming February in Cotabato region for the right to represent Barmm Mindanao in the coming Singapore Invitational Tournament.
The complete list of the Cagayan de Oro leg qualifiers are FM Ellan Asuela, Jeriel Manlimbana, Christian James Aquino, and Aljie Cantonjos in the Open category; Cassey Miguel Tabamo, National Master Keith Adriane Ilar, Arena Candidate Master Joemel Narzabal and Karl Augusto Xander Sayson in the junior level; Sebastian Marbas, Anwin Martinez, Ash Ron Arsa and Jan Calvin Abesamis in the kiddies class; and Basilio Pandan, Mardonio Fuentes, Mario Arroyo, and Arena International Master Cleto ‘Bong’ Vasquez in the Open division.
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
