Maga champ, Bernardino solo second in 9th Leg of Philweb executive chess

(IN PHOTO: NM Marlon Bernardino in a highly confident stance)

Final Standings:

4.5 points--- NM Mirabeau Maga
4.0 points--- RP and US Master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr.
3.0 points--- NM Julius Sinangote, NM Efren Bagamasbad, NM Allan Macalla
2.5 points--- NM Ronald Llavanes
2.0 points--- Fide Master Randy Segarra, NM Ali Branzuela, RP six-time executive champion Dr. Jenny Mayor
1.5 points--- NM Ric Portagalera, NM Allan Sasot, Jerry Areque

NATIONAL MASTER (NM) Mirabeau Maga of Davao City ruled the 9th leg of the 2009 Philweb–Human Plus National Executive Grand Prix Active Chess Championships on Saturday at the Human Resources Conference Room, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Elliptical Road, Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City.

Maga scored 4.5points in the five-round Swiss System event to take the Group A Open Division crown by half a point and pocket the P5,000 champion's purse. RP and US Master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., a Bandera/ CDN sportswriter and radio commentator wound up solo second place with 4.0 points to receive the runner-up prize of P2,000.

National Masters (NMs) Julius Sinangote of Caloocan City, Efren Bagamasbad of Manila and Allan Macalla of Davao City finished with 3.0 points apiece to end up sharing third places to fifth placers, while Philippine Airforce bet NM Ronald Llavanes of Bicol finished with 2.5 points for solo sixth placers.

Other participants were Fide Master Randy Segarra (2.0 points), NM Ali Branzuela(2.0 points), RP six-time executive champion Dr. Jenny Mayor (2.0 points), NM Ric Portagalera (1.5 points), NM Allan Sasot(1.5 points) and Jerry Areque (1.5 points).

Ric dela Pena, meanwhile captured the Group B crown with 4.5 points while Ritchie Evangelista, Mark Oliver Ingcad, Ricardo Jimenez and Joel Cocjin tallied 4.0 points each to finished second to fifth placers.

Organized by the Philippine Association of Chess Executives (PACE), using the 25-minute time control format and hosted by DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, Director Nelia Manahan of Bureau of Agrarian Reform Information and Education (BARIE), DAR Employees Association president Nanette Pascual, DAR employee Lito Dormitorio and Philweb Corporation headed by lawyer Cliburn Orbe. By Marlon Bernardino