John Dave Lavandero gave it another try and got rewarded. Lavandero scored 8.5 points in nine rounds to rule the Comprehensive Credit Services Incorporated (CCSI) Under-20 Chess Tournament at the SM Seaside City Cebu last weekend.
The win was redemption for Lavandero, who lost the titlte last year after losing to eventual winner Krysal Gutang in the penultimate round.
“I finally bagged the title after finishing second last year, ” said Lavandero after the awards ceremony.
Without Gutang in the entries, Lavandero scored 3.5 points in the first four rounds. He then went on a rampage again, winning five straight games. His most notable win was against secondary boys CVIRAA champion Daniel Baylosis in the sixth round.
Lavandero won the champion purse of P5,000, plus a trophy and a gift check from Slimmer’s World worth P1,500.
The other winners were Baylosis, Joseph, Contaoi, Rusia, Marie Kristine Lavandero, Babon, Manlosa, Nedic, and Huros, respectively.
One hundred sixty three played in the tournament, making it one of the biggest tournaments in the city this year that the Cebu Chess Hub organized.
The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) sanctioned the tournament that offered FIDE rapid ratings to participants. Dione Partick Minoza and Kevin Yap acted as arbiters.
An Open Chess tournament on June 16-17 is next on the calendar of the Cebu Chess Hub.
Meanwhile, the organization has opened summer chess classes for beginners, elementary, intermediate, and advanced players. FIDE teaching materials will be the text for these classes. For inquiries, please call or text Mark Mangubat at 09264302641.