SAMUEL ESTIMO TOPS LAWYERS CHESS TOURNEY

CHESS WINNERS OF 1ST KNIGHTS CUP LAWYERS CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS. From left to right: Chief arbiter IA Gene Poliarco, tournament head Dominador “Jun” Bornasal Jr., Fide arbiter/ instructor Rommel Tacorda of Bureau of Immigration (2nd place), two-time Olympian National Master Samuel “Sammy” Estimo (champion), National Master Roland Abo of office on Muslim affairs (3rd place) and tournament manager/ director Alex Dinoy.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES---TWO-TIME Olympian member National Master and lawyer Samuel “Sammy” Estimo flashed his old deadly form by beating lawyer Rodolfo delos Santos after 50 moves of Sicilian defense using the disadvantageous black pieces in the fifth and final round to rule the 1st Knights Cup Lawyers Chess Championships held over the weekend at the Bulwagan ng Katipunan in Caloocan City hall.

Estimo along with Asia’s First GM Eugene Torre, who is best to remember leading the Philippines campaign in the 1970 World Chess Olympiad in Seigen, Germany and 1976 World Chess Olympiad in Haifa, Israel finished unbeaten record with a total 4.5 points in five outings on account of four wins and a draw.

“Suwerte lamang,” said the soft-spoken Estimo, who spearheaded the University of Sto. Tomas campaign enroute the over-all championship’s trophy in the 1965 National Inter-Collegiate Chess Championships. He also adjudged board 1 gold medalist in the said affair. Estimo earned his national master title along with Torre and Chicago-based Julian “Bato” Lobigas Jr. in the 1969 National Open chess championships.

Fide arbiter/ instructor and lawyer Rommel Tacorda (4 points) and National Master and lawyer Roland Abo (3.5 points) settled second and third placers, respectively in the one-day event of 1st Knights Cup Lawyers Chess Championships, organized by Integrated BAR of the Philippines (CAMANAVA) led by lawyer Dominador “Jun” Bornasal Jr. in close cooperation with Hammerhead.

Tacorda, Immigration Area Officer IV-A, NCR Manila/ BI-Interpol Unit under the leadership of Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Marcelino Libanan defeated lawyer Virgilio Sevandal while Abo, acting director, administrative services office on Muslim affairs toppled lawyer Romeo dela Cruz in the final round.
Meanwhile, State Prosecutor II Esteban Molon Jr.beat Judge Claro Flores to adjudged Integrated BAR of the Philippines (CAMANAVA) top player with 3 points. Molon also held a draw with Asia’s First GM Eugene Torre during the 21 board simultaneous exhibition of the latter’s (Torre) before the tournament proper.Torre scored 20 wins and a draw to State Prosecutor II Esteban Molon Jr. BY MARLON BERNARDINO.