CAGAYAN de Oro compatriots Christian Arroyo and Lennon Hart Salgados, who are both alumni of Corpus Christi High School in Cagayan de Oro and Far Eastern University in Manila, shone with the Orfanel Dental Clinic-B team in the recent 3rd Senator Manny Pacquiao Team Chess Tournament 2024.
Playing alongside Manilenyo Ronald Hermida on board 3, Arroyo and Salgados unleashed fighting chess on boards one and two, respectively, as Orfanel-B surmounts all its team opponents in the Tatluhan (trio) seven-round Rapid chessfest held at the Farmers Plaza Cubao, in Quezon City, over the weekend.
Arroyo was more impressive in manning the top board as he scored six wins against one draw to be the Manny Pacquiao-backed tourney’s best performer for woodpushers with ratings of 2000 and below.
Salgados and Hermida supported him with five and three points each as Orfanel-B amassed 14.5 points in equal effort on the individual boards with the Last Minute Team of National Master Mar Aviel Carredo (five points), Jose Carlo Castro (four pts), and Harris de Guia (5.5 pts).
However, Orfanel-B, after being held to a draw (1.5-1.5) in Round 3 by Golden Buddha, defeated co-leader Last Minute, 2-1 in the penultimate sixth round with Arroyo and Salgados providing the needed points.
Thus, Orfanel-B nipped Last Minute in total match points, 13-12 en route to bagging the P30,000 top purse, the championship trophy and medals, and the Kalaro Esports gems worth P15,000.
Last Minute got the runner-up prize of P20,000, a trophy, and P7,500 Kalaro Esports gems.
Third-placer Little Scout Chess Club made up of Richfield Rivera, Riomar Lago, and Christian Tolosa, nosed out fellow 11-pointer Honrado's Gunner of Jonathan Docot, NM Aguilar Aguilera, and Miel Bautista in the Bucholz tiebreaker to receive P10,000 plus a trophy and P3,000 Kalaro Esports gems.
Fourth-placer Honrado’s Gunner was given P8,000, while Team Xadrex comprised of Arena Grandmaster Jan Roldan Oriendo, Narciso Gumila Jr, and Clefzon Limpo prevailed over fellow 10-pointer Tira Tira Sampaloc 1, Team Atty Atinsya ng Gapo, Tira Tira Sampaloc 2 and Tira Tira Sampaloc 3 in the tiebreaker to collar the P6,000 prize for fifth-placer.
Aside from Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, the team winners also expressed gratitude to John Salcedo for organizing the event in cooperation with June Lasco of Kalaro Esports.
