Bersamina wins 1st MMLDC Chess Cup

Reigning RP 12 Under Champion Paulo Bersamina of MERALCO Chess Club fittingly won the 1st MERALCO Management Leadership Development Center Chess Cup by beating Clifford Cobsilen of Lores Chess Club of Antipolo in the knock-out Finals at MMLDC in Antipolo last Sunday to win the gold medal, P1500 National Book Store gift check, Tita Cory commemorative yellow umbrella, MMLDC Aviary Tour gift check, an overnight stay at the MMLDC and tokens from MERALCO, MERALCO Chess Club and MMLDC. Bersamina also won the St. Teresa of Avila (Patron Saint of chess players) medal and gift check for being the top player with a mother in tow.

Cobsilen won the silver and P1000 gift check and tokens. He also won the St. Charles of Borromeo medal for being the top player with a father in tow.

Renato Cruz, Jr. of Taytay and a prodigy of IM Barbosa won the bronze medal and P500 gift certificate and tokens by closing the doors to Nikka Cerrado who won P500 gift check for making the Final 4, a chess set for being the Top Female Player and the Best Player of Cainta medal and a P300 gift check from Cainta Business Center Head Ed Vargas.

World Youth-bound Karen Enriquez of Marikina Chess Federation won the Best Player from Marikina medal and gift check sponsored by MERALCO Marikina Business Center Head Tere Estrada.

Howard Viernes of DNSMS won the Best Player of Angono medal and gift check sponsored by MERALCO Angono Business Center Head Winston delos Reyes.

Chess sets were won by Felipe Magdalaga of National University for being the Top 12 Under Player, Daryl Samantila of Adamson University/MERALCO Chess Club won the Top 10 Under, and Arvin Serban of Sumulong Elementary School won the Top 8 Under.

Aljohn Serban won the GM Wesley So cash award for being the youngest player at 6 years old with the best score; 2.5 points in 7 games.

The top 4 finishers also won a sponsorship to the coming PSC Kiddies at RMC on Sept 13.

And in the Ateneo-La Salle sidelight, Ateneo's Jett Cadawas- Marcos with 5 points edged La Salle's Rhal Sol Cruz with 4.5 points to add a bit of color to this tournament which was played in one of the best environment-friendly chess venues. MARLON BERNARDINO