VETERAN Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Mark Paragua stole the spotlight by winning the 2021 Mayor Inday Sara “Pa-Birthday Kalingawan” Online Chess Open tournament which was held Monday, May 31 using the chess.com site.
Paragua finished with 10 points on the Blitz (three minutes plus two second increment time control) format on nine wins and two draws of the 11-round Swiss System mode of play. Paragua who is now based in New York, edged Grand Master Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. who finished second on a tiebreak next to Grand Master Roland Salvador, Canadian Master Zulkficar Sali and Fide Master Roberto Suelo Jr. after all wound-up third, fourth and fifth places, respectively with similar nine points.
Paragua pocketed P5,000 in the tournament which coincided with the birthday of Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, organized by IA/FT James Infiesto in cooperation with the Davao Chess Eagles/Ariel Aton and sponsored by AIM/NA Rey Urbiztondo, the Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates and NA Acas (arbiter). It attracted 418 participants worldwide despite a short notice.
Special awards were also given to Keith Adrianne Ilar (Top Kiddie Under 12), NM Darry Bernardo (Top PWD – first place), FM Sander Severino (Top PWD – second place), AGM Henry Roger Lopez (Top PWD -third place); NA Anthony Hicap (Top Arbiter – first place), FM Marlon Bernardino (Top Arbiter –second place), NA Richard dela Cruz (Top Arbiter – third place; Oberio Aglibay (Top Executive – first place), Lyndon Sombilon (Top Executive – second place), Francis Talaboc (Top Executive –third place); Francois Marie Magpily (Top Lady –first place), Kristensen Banguiran (Top Lady – second place), Rowelyn Joy Acedo (Top Lady – third place); Johnnel Balquin (Top Mindanaoan – first place), Jonathan Tan (Top Mindanaoan – second place) and FM Austin Jacob Literatus (Top Mindanaoan – third place).
