REMATE JOURNALIST IS 1ST NPC MEDIA CHESS CHAMPION

(RUSTICBULL's NOTES: I was supposed to join this special event but my academic load got in the way. But although I wasn't able to play in this tournament - to my regret - I was one of the voices who strongly called for the swift justice for all the victims of the Ampatuan massacre where 58 were killed, 33 of whom were journalists. Last November 23, a year after this gruesome political killing shocked the whole world, I wore a black arm band and trooped to the University of the Philippines (Diliman) to be with the voices that strongly called for justice.)

(Photos and captions by Marlon Bernardino)

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President/ Chairman Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr,. and National Press Club (NPC) President Jerry S. Yap led the opening rites at the start of 1st NPC Media Chess Tournament on Saturday at the Plaridel Hall of the National Press Club Bldg. on Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila. From left: Tournament director RP and US chess master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President/ Chairman Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., NPC directors Amor Virata,Nats Taboy, William Dipasupil. Also in photo were NPC director Mina Navarro versus NPC director Freddie Manalac GM Wesley So versus National Press Club (NPC) President Jerry S. Yap GM John Paul Gomez versus NPC director Tina Maralit.

CHAMPION: Jorge B. Convocar (with cap) of Remate and Remate Tonight

From left: Tournament director RP and US chess master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., Tournament organizer Atty. Toto Causing, Jorge B. Convocar of Remate and Remate Tonight (champion),Orlando Pua of Manila Broadcasting Corporation (2nd place) and National Press Club (NPC) President Jerry S. Yap


2nd to 5th placers

5th to 1oth placers

The participants

From left: Fide Master Christopher Castellano (deputy arbiter), George Ibay (steward), International Arbiter and National Master Erwin Carag (chief arbiter), National Press Club (NPC) President Jerry S. Yap, Tournament organizer Atty. Toto Causing, Gatpayo Luz (deputy arbiter), Tournament director RP and US chess master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., Anthony Bernardino (steward)

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

JORGE B. CONVOCAR of Remate and Remate Tonight dominated the Massacre in November 1st National Press Club (NPC) media chess tournament at the Plaridel Hall of the National Press Club Bldg. on Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila over the weekend.

Convocar actually ended in a tie for first place with Orlando Pua of Manila Broadcasting Corporation for both of them to divide equally between them the prize monies for the first and second, P8,000 and P6,000, respectively, for both ended up with 6 points.

But Convocar got the Champion’s plaque for besting Pua in the tiebreak score.

Remate Tonight sportswriter Abimelech Dawa, Dyaryo Magdalo sports editor Ronaldo Herico and Pulso ng Makabagong Caviteno’s Francis Buenaventura shared equally the prize monies for the third, fourth and fifth places for ending up in a tie at 5.5 points.

But Dawa got the third place plaque, Herico the fourth place plaque and Buenaventura the fifth place plaque.

Tying for sixth to 10th places were Joey Villar of the Philippine Star, Benjie Vergara of Peoples Balita, Virgilio Garcia, Juanito Lobitos and Jose Mari Gutang of GMA 7.

Orlando S. Primo of X-Files bagged the top senior player award while Pacific Review/Bigwas Michelle Borlongan took home the top lady award.

The Philippine team led by National Chess Federation of the Philippines President/ Chairman Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. attended the opening ceremonies of the tournament to give an inspirational message, towing along with him GMs Wesley So and John Paul Gomez.

So and Gomez give their messages to the journalists who love chess.

The event organized by Dyaryo Magdalo editor-in-chief Toto Causing and sponsored by National Press Club, through its president Jerry S. Yap, was held as part of the elaborate commemoration of the Ampatuan Massacre that killed 58 persons including 33 journalists on November 23, 2009.

International Arbiter and National Master Erwin Carag served as chief arbiter and assisted by Fide Master Christopher Castellano (deputy arbiter), Gatpayo Luz (deputy arbiter), Anthony Bernardino (steward) and George Ibay (steward).