Balsalubre, Ramos shine

Standings:
Open
7.5 points — J. Balsalubre, C. Caranyagan.
6.5 — T. Cervero, K. Llantada, N. Geronimo,  M. Lomio, D. Laylo
6 — J. Oriendo, R. Cruz, J. Trajano,  J. Esparagoza.
Women
7 points — A. Ramos
6  — S. Esperanza
4.5 —   S.Anicete

Unheraled Joven Balsalubre and AIM April Joy Ramos shared the limelight in the Marikina City Christmas Chess Festival  rapid chess championships held last Dec. 28-29at the Ayala Feliz Malls in Marikina.

Balsalubre edged AGM Jan Roldan Oriendo in the ninth and final round  to finish with  7.5 points on six wins and three draws in the  prestigious two-day competition supported by  Sen Koko Pimentel and sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), headed by Chairman Richard Bachmann and Ayala Malls Feliz.

Although seeded only 14th with an ELO of 1967, Balsalubre finished in a two-way tie for first place with No. 2 seed Carlo Caranyagan, but clinched the championship by virtue of higher tie break. score.

Both Balsalubre and Caranyagan finished a full point ahead of top seed GM Darwin Laylo and four other players with 6.5 points.

Also with the same score are No. 3 Tristan Jared Cervero,  No. 5 Kyz Llantada,  Noel Geronimo and AFM Marc Kenneth Lomio.

Laylo defeated No. 17 Ronald Dabasco,  Cervero outclassed Mark Chrisgian Mesina,  Llantada and Geronimo battled to a draw and Lomio humbled Carl Ancheta.

Four players, led  by Oriendo, shared eighth to 11th places with six points in the tough, 61-player  rapid chess competition.

Equally impressive  was Ramos, who overpowered Rayna Maniacup in the seventh and final round to complete a sweep in the women’s  rapid division.

Simone Ellise Esperanza outwitted Christine Joy Amata to clinch runner-up honor with six points.

Third place went to Sarah Aniceta, who bested Angel Siega.