Mariveles holds 73rd Liberation Day Chess Tournament

MARIVELES, Bataan -The Mariveles 73^rd Liberation Day Chess Tournament was successfully held in this town last Sunday, February 11.

“We will continue supporting chess development at grassroots level”, assured Vice Mayor Lito Rubia who together with Councilor Angel Sunga graced the opening ceremony of the chess tournament held at Heroes Hall, Barangay Poblacion.

“Mayor AJ Concepcion, Councilor Sunga, and all the SB members, we are all supporting the further promotion of chess in our town”, he added.

“This year we increased the fund for the tournament to have the Open Division to entice strong players outside Bataan and test the mettle of our own local chess players and provide excitement”, he said.

For his part, “Better our youths be engaged in sports instead of vices like illegal drugs”, said Sunga in his message who is the SB Chairman of the Committee on Sports.

“Playing chess is one way to wean away youths from vices”, he added.

“Just like what Vice Mayor Rubia said, we with Mayor Concepcion, will continue supporting chess development in Mariveles”, he also said.

Earlier, Councilor Tito Catipon vowed his personal desire to help in the chess development in this town.

 “We always support staging of chess tournaments here”, he said.

 “We even worked in the past to unify chess clubs here”, he shared.

  The tournament was organized by Mariveles Chess Club with three divisions: Open, Senior, and Kiddie.

As announced by tournament organizer Mariveles Chess Club President Louie Ramos, the cash prizes and trophies were distributed to the winners right after the tournament.

Ramos expressed gratitude to those who made the tournament a reality and success that included Concepcion, Rubia, Sunga and all other SB members,   Municipal Administrator Jesus Maninang, General Services Office OIC Engr. Clay Gomez, FIDE National Arbiter Alex Dinoy, National Arbiter Garry Reyes, and Club Arbiter Erickson Marimla.

Jerome Villanueva from Metro Manila with elo rating of 2300 plus (calibre of a national master) emerged champion in the Open Division.

For a while during the tournament, Bataan chesser RJ Talastas carried the weight of the province as he battled for top 5 finishes in the 6th and last round against higher rated 2300 plus NCR player and actually had the win in the bag.

Unfortunately, with time a huge a factor he blundered away a bishop to the dismay of all local players who were rooting for him.