Docena tops 1st NM Cabrido Memorial Chess Cup

The 2007 Asean Age group silver medalist Jerad Docena nipped RP's reigning 12-Under Boys champion Paulo Bersamina in the championship round to rule the 1st NM Cabrido Memorial Chess Cup - which served to be a weekend crossroad of a number of the country's best and brightest in youth chess - held in Meralco, Ortigas last Sunday.

After the cross-over semifinal round, Docena and Bersamina met each other in the final round to engage in a hardly fought tactical battle in the endgame. The World Youth-bound Bersamina misfired in the course of the endgame and shook the hands of Docena to settle for first runner up.

Docena took home the gold medal plus P1,000 cash prize for ruling the tough event. Bersamina, on the other hand, was awarded with the silver medal and a P700 cash incentive.

In the fight for 2nd runner-up, RP's reigning Under-14 Girl champion and World Youth-bound Jean Karen Enriquez subdued 2009 National Age Group silver medalist Daryl Unix Samantila to bring home the bronze medal and P500 cash prize. Samantila also brought home P500.

Docena and Bersamina beat Enriquez and Samantila in the semifinal cross-over round.

Notably, the rising-star, Turkey-bound Karen topped the five-round eliminations with a superb performance of 4.5/5 before the cross-over semifinal round.

2009 Palarong Pambansa silver medalist Michelle Yaon, who was tied with four others with 4.0 points after five rounds, fell short of making it to the top four for the semis due to inferior tiebreak points. Michelle finished strong in 5th place after the elimination round.

After the five-round elimination, it was Karen Enriquez, Daryl Unix Samantila, Paulo Bersamina, Jerad Docena, Michelle Yaon, and Jerome Saltorio in that order.

10th Asean Age Group Chess championship bronze medalist Dennis Guttierez, Jr. settle for 13th place with 3.5 points.

Antipolo City Inter-School ruler Renato Cruz, Jr. and third-placer Virgen Gil Ruaya finished No.12 and No.11, respectively.

Category winners were Rhal Sol Cruz (Best Meralco Kiddie), Jolina Saltorio (Best Meralco Lady), and Jerome Saltorio (Best Meralco High School).

NM Andrew Vasquez served as the chief arbiter with the help of journalist NM Marlon Bernardino and International Arbiter NM Erwin Carag.

The highly competitive field was punctuated by the visit of chess academician GM Bong Villamayor who intently observed the games.

Meralco Chess Club president Rolly Sol Cruz and Mr. Lilet Bersamina were the prime movers behind this successful event which was put up to honor the late NM Cabrido who worked for and one of the pillars of MCC.

Cabrido is best remembered as the Filipino who taught world champion GM Viswanathan Anand to play chess when Anand's family was still based in the Manila in the 80’s.

FINAL RANKINGS
Champion - Jerad Docena
1st Runner-up - Paulo Bersamina
2nd Runner-up - Jean Karen Enriquez
3rd Runner-up - Daryl Unix Samantila

INTERIM RANKINGS AFTER THE FIVE-ROUND ELIMINATIONS

Rg. Name Pkte
1 Enriquez Karen 4½
2 Samantila Daryl Unix 4
3 Bersamina Paulo 4
4 Docena Jerad 4
5 Yaon Michelle 4
6 Saltorio Jerome 4
7 Cerrado Jo Nikka 3½
8 Viernes Tucker Howard 3½
9 De Jesus Normel 3
10 Saltorio Jefferson 3
11 Ruaya Virgen Gil 3
12 Cruz Renato 3
13 Gutierrez III Dennis 3
14 Docena Jesca 3
15 Gravillo Narciso 3
16 Monteza Jomarie 3
17 De Leon Luke Matthew 2½
18 Sol Cruz Rhal 2½
19 Gutierrez Dennis Jr 2
20 Alcantara Michael 2
21 Marcos Jett 2
22 Patindol Kenneth 2
23 Marcos JV 2
24 Abajon Jonalyn 2
25 Saltorio Jolina 2
26 Salazar John Emil 2
27 Gutierrez Mikaela 1½
28 Bermejo D3 1½
29 Espada Jenny 1½
30 Go Keith Stephanie 1
31 Go Patricia Stephanie 1
32 Soto Lyzza Marie 1
33 Serwelas Mike Gerald ½
34 Retonda Raymart Aaron ½



Some of the participants (winners with medals) with NM Andrew Vasquez, NM Marlon Bernardino and NM Erwin Carag



Final round: Paulo vs Jerad. Father and son Rolly and Rhal view the games from opposite sides.



Semifinal actions: Paulo Bersamina vs Daryl Samantila (foreground) and Jerad Docena vs Karen Enriquez



Special category prize winners, from left: Rhal Sol Cruz (Best Meralco Grade School), Jolina Saltorio (Best Meralco Lady), and Jerome Saltorio (Best Meralco High School)



GM Bong Villamayor dropped by the playing venue and watched the kids play



NM Andrew Vasquez closely supervises the games


Actions in the elimination rounds