Bukidnon master rules Chess the Red Cross Way, Iloilo grabs team title

Koronadal, South Cotabato — National master Keith Adriane Ilar of Bukidnon swept the individual competition, while Iloilo Sports Development Office dominated the team event at the close of the 2025 Chess the Red Cross Way tournament at the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center here over the weekend.

Ilar, one of the fast-rising young players from Northern Mindanao, swept all his six matches to emerge as the undisputed winner in this two-day competition organized by One Chess Movement, headed by Ariel Potot, in cooperation with the Koronadal Chess Club, Provincial Govenrment of South Kotabto, and the City Govenment of Koronadal.

The 14-year-old pride of Don Carlos, Bukidnon, finished with six wins in as many matches to edge NM Jayson Salubre and three other players for top honors in the event held in this beautiful South Cotabato province noted for its lush, tropical rainforests and breathtaking Siok and Millenium waterfalls.

Salubre clinched runner-up honors with five points in a tie with NM Vince Angelo Medina, Eduard Sumergido and Michael Gastala.

Four other players, led by Amir Mamarong, shared sixth to ninth places with 4.5 points, while NMs Cedric Ablaza and Carl Magno Rosaupan led nine other players in 10th to 20th places with four points

Marian Calimbo emerged as the top female player with three points in six matches in the tournament held for the benefit of the Philippine Red Cross South Cotabato Chapter.

Sharing the limelight was the Iloilo Sports Development Office of NM Fritz Bryan Porras, Ronel Ballesteros and John Paul de Guzman, which domnated the 2055 and below 3×3 team chess competition.

Porras defeated NM Roel Filipinas and NM Maca Macala, and drew with Randolph Christopher Dalauta, while Ballesteros won over Ronnel Aisado and Russel Derecho and drew with Paciano Gulle in the12-team, four-round knockout competition.

Earlier, Iloilo topped the 36-team, six-round qualifying round to determine the top 12 teams held last Saturday.

Iloilo brought home the top prize of P100,000.

Printex Davao, bannered by Macala, Derecho and Earl Rhay Mantilla and Tacurong City, led by Ferdinand Leysa, Michael Elloso and Venly Ito, finished second and third, respectively. 

Idea Philippines wound up fourth overall.

Dental HP Uncrowned Kings, Novosmart Central West Medical Inc., EBON and Tatang Bibo shared fifth to eighth places.

Also making it to the Top 12 knockout round on the second day of competition were JP Fen, Julsports Garments Gallery, Guevarra Law Office and Woodpushers Remix. 

Last Saturday, the Big 4 Magnitude of Davao emerged as the overall champion in the 13U Juniors 4×4 team tournament.

National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Lope B. Santos III awarded the trophies and cash prizes to the winners, assisted by Potot, Koronadal Chess Club chairman Joselito Dormitorio and president Brian Placer.

Main beneficiary of the event is the Philippine National Red Cross South Cotabato Chapter.