7th Dr. Jose Sr. Inter-School Chess Festival results

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

Daryl Unix Samantila of Adamson University (in photo),Giovanni Mejia of La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) and Gerald Ferriol of University of Sto. Tomas shared the limelight in the just concluded 7th Dr. Jose Sr. Inter-School Chess Festival was held at the Ateneo Grade School Cafeteria over the weekend (March 19).

Samantila, playing under the tutelage of Falcons head coach Christopher Rodriguez, also a member of the RP age group team which won bronze medal in the last years ASEAN Age Group Olympics in Jakarta, Indonesia bested Romulo Curioso of Cabanatuan High School in a tie break points to bagged the grade school category championship trophy. Both finished with 5.5 points in six outings but split the combined prize of P6,000 for 1st and 2nd place.

Rhenzi Sevillano of University of San Carlos whom drew with Samantila in the final round led the group of 5 pointers that includes Haince Patrick De Leon of Marist School, Dennis Gutierrez Jr. of Stella Maris School and Julius Gonzales of Marikina Elementary School.

In the high school division, Mejia, playing under the guidance of LSGH head coach International arbiter and national master Erwin L. Carag edged Mc Dominique Lagula of Far Eastern University in the tie break points to went home the coveted crown. Mejia and Lagula, who drew their final match finished with 5.5 points each and splits the 1st and 2nd place cash prize of P6, 000.

In the college division, Ferriol ended in a 5-way tie for first with Joseph Cayanan of Trinity University of Asia, Narquingden Reyes of College of St. Benilde, Chester Brian Guerrero of Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Jerome Baretto of University of the Philippines but the former (Ferriol) take home the top trophy after the tie break.
These top 5 finishers all finished with 5 points out of a possible perfect 6 and splits the conbined prize of P11,000.

Special awards were also given to Dennis Gutierrez III (Top Grade 1 player), Angelo Alvez (Top Grade 2 Player), Vic Glysen (Top GS Girl), and Kristine Mariano (Top College Lady). Awards were also given to the Top Ateneo players with Gabriel Layugan (Top ADMU College), Ralph Manahan (Top ADMU HS), and Jett Marcos (Top ADMU GS) earning recognition in their respective categories.

Mr. Jose P. Leviste Jr. (Alumni Team Chairman of the Ateneo Chess Teams), who flew in from Italy the night before celebrated his birthday as he stood as guest awarder during the awarding ceremony.

This is the seventh installment of the bi-annual project of the Ateneo De Manila Chess Teams under the direction of Grandmaster Candidate and Ateneo Program Head for Chess Idelfonso Datu and through the support of Mr. Jose Leviste Jr. (Ateneo Chess Teams Alumni Chairman) and major sponsors Constellation Energy Corporation, Italpinas Design and Development, Grand Placement, and Pilipinas SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise), and Philippine Eagle Foundation, with the endorsement of Richard Palou, University Athletics Director of the Ateneo de Manila University. Chief Arbiter for the competition was National Arbiter Rudy Ibañez supported by arbiters Chiara Lim and Alvin Yen. This competition series is in honor of the memory of Ateneo alumnus Dr. Jose P. Leviste Sr. (HS ’33, AA ’35), the father of Jose P. Leviste Jr. (GS ‘57, HS ‘61, AB ‘65) and the grandfather of Jose D. Leviste III (AB 2001).