Baltazar tops NCR-Palaro Chess

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

MELWYN KENNETH BALTAZAR of Manila City dominated the just concluded National Capital Region (NCR) Palarong Pambansa Chess qualification tournament on Thursday at the Aurora Quezon Elementary School, Quirino Avenue in Manila.

Baltazar, son of a national chess arbiter and teacher, was the 2008 NCR Palarong Pambansa chess champion.He cruised undefeated in seven rounds on six wins and a draw to raise his total 6.5 points in the four-day qualifying tournament supervised by Chess Arbiters Association of the Philippines (CAAP) headed by it’s president Rey Colitoy and local arbiter Raul Cruz

Last year NCR Palarong Pambansa champion Giovanni "Gio" Mejia of Mandaluyong City came second with 6 points, half point ahead over third placer Jerad Docena of Pasay City with 5.5 points in the Elementary Boys division.

In the seventh and final round, Baltazar, a grade six pupil of Felipe Calderon Elementary School edged Reigning 12 and under champion Paulo Bersamina of Pasay City, Mejia, a grade seven student of La Salle Greenhills (LSGH), on the other hand beat Eder de Jesus of Malabon-Navotas while Docena, a grade six student of Gotamco Elementary School defeated John Michael Mapily of Makati City.

Baltazar and Mejia will represent NCR in the 53rd edition of Palarong Pambansa slated on April 11 to 17 in Tarlac Province. Joining them in the tournament proper were Avhix Alfonso of Quezon City and Franz Grafil of Manila City (High School Boys), Jesca Docena of Pasay City and Maria Ysabelle Joyce Semillano of Muntinlupa City (Elementary Girls), Woman Fide Master Cherry Ann Mejia and Mikee Charlene Suede of Manila City (High School Girls).