NM MILAGROSA TOPS PACE ACTIVE CHESS OPEN

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

Final Standings (six round Swiss-system)

5.5 points---NM Alex Milagrosa
5 points---Antonio Chavez, Ryan Dungca, Luffe Magdalaga
4.5 points---Christian Arroyo, Jerry Areque, NM Edmundo Gatus
4 points---FM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, NM Julius Sinangote, Lyndon Sombilon, James Bulicatin

NATIONAL MASTER Alex Milagrosa downed former solo leader and journeyman Ryan Dungca in the sixth and final round to rule the just ended 1st Leg of Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (PACE) Active Open Chess Championships late Sunday at the 2nd floor of PACE headquarters in No. 56 Mindanao Ave., Project 6, Quezon City.

Milagrosa, assistant coach of the multi-titled Far Eastern University (FEU) under the tutelage of head coach two-time olympian member GM Jayson Gonzales prevails after 40 moves of Center Counter Game.

Much known the Chinese Master, Milagrosa, who made prominence in the local soil by beating numerous Chinese Grandmaster in the 1989 Far East Bank International Chess Tournament went home the top prize of P4,000 in the event supervised by NAPCA head Boyet Tardecilla.

Dungca, a former stalwart of Adamson University remains at 5 points to share 2nd to 4th placers in the company of Antonio Chavez and Luffe Magdalaga, both member of the FEU chess team who bagged the UAAP senior men’s championships title this year.

No less than Asia’s First GM Eugene Torre and PACE founding head and birthday celebrant GM Jayson Gonzales led the closing rites.

Rounding up to the top 11 finishers are Christian Arroyo, Jerry Areque, NM Edmundo Gatus, FM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, NM Julius Sinangote, Lyndon Sombilon and James Bulicatin. Last Saturday, Vince Angelo Medina, also top player of FEU junior varsity team won the kiddies section.