International Master Ronald Bancod beat fellow IM Barlo Nadera in the fifth and final round to rule the 1st Grand Hangout Grandfathers’ Day Chess Championship at the Activity Area of Gateway Mall, Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City on Sunday.
Bancod finished with a perfect five points in the Swiss System finals in the tournament, which drew a record 240 participants. He took home the P10,000 cash prize and freebies from Araneta Center.
Grandmaster Rogelio ‘Joey’ Antonio settled for second place with 4.5 points.
Antonio, who missed sweeping the five-game finals after settling for a draw with US Master Jose Aquino Jr. in the fourth round, actually finished in a triple-tie with Aquino and NM Carlo Magno Rosaupan but took second place and the P3,000 cash prize with a superior tiebreak.
Nadera, NM Noel dela Cruz, Florei Cruz, Jerry Areque, Ritchie Jocson and Ravel Canlas complete the top 10 finishers.
Later, Bancod and guest IM Chito Garma played in an exhibition match using the giant chessboard with giant chess pieces mounted inside the tournament area.
Garma, however, got the better of Bancod in the 10-minute rapid affair.
Chief arbiter Ilann Perez said they had to change the format of the one-day tournament owing to the huge number of participants, as they decided to make it a two knockout affair.
The top 40 participants after the two knockout games then joined the 40 other seeded players in the five-game Swiss System grand finals.
Chief Organizer and NCFP Director Martin ‘Binky’ Gaticales expressed delight over the huge number of participants and vowed to organize more tournaments at Gateway Mall.
“This is a very good development for Philippine chess. Napakarami ng sumali and I hope we can do this for a second time soon. Of course, I’d like to thank the Araneta Center for hosting this tournament and also the players for joining,” said Gaticales, who was joined by another NCFP Director, Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe, during the awarding ceremony.