Delos Santos leads Mactan Barkadahan tourney, Quizon still unbeaten in National Men’s Open 

CEBU CITY – Former National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Most Valuable Player for Chess tournament Don Tyrone de los Santos stayed on course for the first-ever Mactan Open: Barkadahan Para sa Bansa title after securing his fifth win in as many games at the Solea Mactan Resort early this evening, December 11, 2021.

Likewise, Dasmariñas-Cavite chess prodigy IM Daniel Quizon kept his lead in the very strong field of Philippine National Open Chess Championship following his monumental victory over the 13-time National Open champion GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. in Round 5 of the 11 round event that serve as qualifying tournament for the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games in Thailand in 2023.

Meanwhile, De los Santos, who propelled Arellano University Chiefs in coping a back-to-back NCAA Men’s Chess title in 2015, defeated WIM Bernadette Galas for his fifth straight win to take control of the 39-field tournament.

De los Santos who started as 9^th seed at the start of the competition has defeated Raymundo Bonoan III in Round 1 followed by a win over Cebuano Jimmy Ty, Antonio Chavez and Lapu-Lapu Naki Warriors player FM Anthony Makinano before beating the Board 3 player of the Naki Warriors.

Makinano meanwhile, climbed to the second to the fifth spot along with three other players who also had 4.0 points each – NM Carlo Magno Rosaupan of Davao City, IM Angelo Young and FM Roel Abelgas while Lapu-Lapu City prodigy NM John Jerish Velarde tied for the 6^th and 7^th place with WIM Galas with 3.5 points each.

Makinano earlier defeated Oliver Dimalanta, Jerlyn Mae San Diego, and Rosaupan before conceding to De los Santos on the fourth round then defeated Lapu-Lapu teammate Bryle Arellano for his fourth point.

Velarde meanwhile defeated Renato Goopio in the opening round, had a draw with Abelgas on the second lost to IM Young on the third then beat Jose Faunus Fernandez and Reynaldo Flores to climb to the sixth place in the current ranking.

While Chavez lead the 14 players who were locked up in the 8^th to 20^th places that includes with 3.0 points respectively that includes, John Ernie Maraan, sportswriter Jaime Joshua Frias, Janmyl Dilan Tisado, Bryle Arellano, Khent Darylle Delig, Renato Goopio, Mark Jay Bacojo, Alfredo Rapanot, Jeylyn Mae San Diego, Jhonnel Balquin, WFM Mejia and Ty who all has 3.0 after five rounds.

In the National Men’s Open Finals, currently chasing Quizon is IM Ricardo de Guzman with 4.0 points, IMs Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Paolo Bersamina and Ronald Dableo shared the 3^rd to 5^th places with 3.0 points each, GM Darwin Laylo with 2.5 points, GM Antonio and IMs Joel Pimentl and John Marvin Miciano tied with 2.0 points each, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna and IM Michael Concio Jr. with 1.5 points each and wild card entry Allan Pason at the bottom of the 12-man field.

The six-day event backed by PSC chair Butch Ramirez, NCFP president Rep. Butch Pichay, POC president Rep. Bambol Tolentino, Chess Movement Chairman Dr. Ariel Potot, PCSO vice chair and general manager Royina Garma and Atty. Roel Canobas.RCM