Final standings after 12 rounds:
10.5 points — R. Antonio, M. Paragua.
10 — A. Reyes
9.5 — O. Barbosa, E. Asuela, C. Garma, R. Dableo
GRANDMASTER Rogelio Antonio, Jr. made history by becoming the first-ever champion in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) qualifying tournament over the weekend.
Antonio, nicknamed the “Iron Man” in online chess, finished with 10.5 points on 10 wins, one draw and one loss in the 12-round Swiss System tournament organized by PCAP and sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) and National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).
Antonio finished in a two-way tie with United States-based GM Mark Paragua, who also had 10. 5 points, but clinched the title by virtue of higher tiebreak score.
FM Arden Reyes finished a close third with 10 points on eight wins and four draws.
Four players, led by GM Oliver Barbosa, shared fourth to seventh places with 9.5 points in this one-day tournamemt which attracted a total of 349 participants.
Barbosa had eights wins, three draws and one loss for 9.5 points.
With Barbosa are Ellan Asuela (8-3-1); IM Chito Garma (9-1-2) and IM Ronald Dableo (9-1-2).
Completing the Top 10 are Kyle Ochoa, John Michael Silvederio and Jiggy Miguel Vicente, all with nine points.
The other notable finishers are IM Angelo Young, Jayson Salubre and Francois Magpily, all with 8.5 points; and GM Darwin Laylo, Rudy Ibanez, Cherry Ann Mejia and Joel Hicap with eight points.
PCAP president Atty. Paul Elauria said he was happy with the turnout of participants in this inaugural PCAP tournamnet.
“The list of PCAP participants is very encouraging. We have a lot of good players who joined the tournament,” said Elauria.
Elauria said the next qualifying tournament will be held on Nov. 14.
The complete PCAP schedule:
November 20 – Deadline of Players Application
November 21 – Teams’ drawing of lots
November 28, 2020 – Mock draft
December 12, 2020 – Draft Day
Nov 21 to Dec 11 – Teams discussion with prospective players (Contract Terms)
December 13, 2020 to January 8, 2021 – GAB licensing
January 16, 2021 – Start of season.
