GRANDMASTER Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. (left), former NCFP Exec. Dir. Red Dumuk (2nd from left), Asia First GM Eugene Torre (3rd from left), IM Daniel Quizon (4th from left), IM Michael Concio Jr. (middle), NM Mark Jay Bacojo (5th from right)), Bayanihan Chess Club co-founding chairman Engr. Antonio Balinas (with cap) with Singapore-based Rosalinda Balinas (2nd from right) and Angie Balinas (right). (Contributed Photo)
MANILA, Philippines – International Master Michael Concio was crowned champion in the 2023 Balinas Open Rapid Chess Tournament held at the Open Kitchen Foodhall, Rockwell Business Center, Sheridan Street, Mandaluyong City on Saturday, March 18.
Concio scored a total of 6.5 points after the National Chess Federation of the Philippines 7-round Swiss System competition-sanctioned tournament with 10 minutes plus 5 seconds increment time control that attracted 254 participants.
Concio figured in a triple tie with IM Daniel Quizon and National Master Mark Jay Bacojo with similar 6.5 points, but the eventual champion got the highest tie breaker points to grab the top honors.
Concio received P20,000, while Quizon and Bacojo got P10,000 and P7,000 for winding up second and third, respectively.
“Actually, I didn’t expect the outcome (results) but I decided to play it safe against NM Bob Jones Liwagon having an edge in the tie-breaks plus I saw the final game of (IM Daniel) Quizon versus (NM Mark Jay) Bacojo which seems to look draw-ish,” said the 17 years old Concio, a Grade 12 student of Dasmariñas Integrated High School.
The last round saw Concio took half the point with NM Liwagon so did as Quizon and Bacojo.
Concio, Quizon, Bacojo are members of the star-studded Dasmariñas Chess Academy of rep. Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr., Mayor Jenny Barzaga and national coach FM Roel Abelgas.
Rounding up to the top 11 with 6.0 points each is IM Rolando Nolte, IM Paulo Bersamina, FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri, NM Christian Gian Karlo Arca, Sherwin Tiu, IM Ronald Dableo, AIM Cyrus Vladimir Francisco, and Liwagon.
Liwagon, who hails from Cotabato City, is a Philippine Army Major under the Office of the Army Judge Advocate under Col. Liberato O. Ramos, won the top PECA Executive award and pocketed P5,000 for his efforts.
No less than Asia’s First Grandmaster Eugene Torre, Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., Bayanihan Chess Club co-founding chairman Eng’r. Antonio Balinas, former National Chess Federation of the Philippines executive director Red Dumuk, Singapore-based Rosalinda Balinas, Angie Balinas, Mark Roland Navarro of Open Kitchen, Gem Zafra and Chief Arbiter NA Ranier Pascual led the closing rites.
The 1-day FIDE rated event was sponsored by Balinas Family in close cooperation with China Aurelio and Mimi Casas of Open Kitchen, Richard Poblete-Ramos of Eurobake, Hongkong national chess player Sunny Lo and Thailand-based NM coach Gerald Ferriol.
Zigfrido Dokino Abella and John Paul Gaffud gave his artwork – painting impression of the great late GM Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. to his only daughter, Nur Rose Balinas.
“Bayanihan did another historic tournament for Philippine Chess,” told US based Dr. Joe Balinas. – Marlon Bernardino
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