NCR BAG 2 GOLD IN PALARONG PAMBANSA CHESS

TOURNAMENT favorite National Capital Region defeated Bicol Region 1.5-0.5, in the penultimate round but lost to Central Luzon Region, 0.5-1.5, in the final round but still emerged this year’s over-all Palarong Pambansa Elementary Boys’ champion at the conclusion yesterday at the Aquino Center, Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac City.

Melwyn Kenneth Baltazar drew with Bicol’s Collier Graspela but succumbed to Central Luzon’s Nelson Busan, respectively to finished with a seven-round total of 5 points on four wins, two draws and a loss.

Giovanni “Gio” Mejia, meanwhile scored back to back draw against Christian Paul Bonganay and Romulo Curioso, in order to raise his total 6 points on five wins and two draws.

“ Masayang-masaya po kami ni Kenneth sa wakas nag champion na din ang NCR sa Elementary boys’ division,” said board 2 individual gold medal winner Mejia, an incoming freshman student of La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City under the tutelage of national master and international arbiter Erwin Carag.

The last two Palarong Pambansa Elementary boys’ edition in Tacloban and Puerto Princesa topped by Southern Tagalog and Davao Region.

Overall, NCR finished with a total 11 points to bring home the team gold medal in this year’s Tarlac edition. Central Visayas took the silver while Northern Mindanao Region settled for bronze medal.

NCR spearheaded by Mikee Charlene Suede and Woman Fide Master Cherry Ann Mejia also took the coveted gold in the High School girl’s division. Davao and Central Luzon settled for silver and bronze medal.

According to Rey Yaon of Calamba Chess Club, other team winners were Calabarzon (Gold) Western Visayas (Silver) and Northern Mindanao (Bronze) for the Elementary girls’ division and Western Visayas (Gold), Davao (Silver) and NCR (Bronze) for High School boys.

Special award for youngest player is 8-year-old Regyne Palaming of Ilocos Region.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO