By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Recarte Tiauson of Negros Occidental’s Talisay City emerged as champion of the Mayor Jose Chubasco Batchuk B. Cardenas invitational FIDE-rated chess tournament after finishing with the highest score in the one-day competition held at the Salta New Uptown Market in Negros Oriental’s Canlaon City.
Tiauson collected eight points in the nine-round Swiss-system tournament, winning his first eight matches before suffering his lone defeat in the final round against Ric Raymond dela Peña of Bacolod City.
His strong start proved enough to secure the overall championship and the top prize of P30,000 during the city’s Charter Day celebration.
Among the players Tiauson defeated were Jaime Barilea, Jay Dicen, John Jerick Canoy, FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri, Ted Ian Montoyo, National Master Fritz Bryan Porras, National Master Rolando Andador, and Ian Cris Henry Udani.
Despite falling to Dela Peña in the last round, Tiauson maintained the highest overall score to claim the title.
“I am very happy with my victory because almost all of the top players in Negros Island and nearby provinces joined the tournament,” the 37-year-old Tiauson said.
Tiauson previously placed third in the blitz event and fourth in the rapid division of the 2025 Asian Amateur Chess Championships in Hong Kong.
Porras and Dela Peña finished tied with 7.5 points after Porras split his final-round match with Jordaine Tupaz.
Based on the tournament’s tiebreak system, Porras claimed second place and received P20,000, while Dela Peña settled for third and earned P15,000.
Andador and Romeo Sadia III each finished with seven points, while Montoyo, Tupaz, Christian Pelione, and Udani ended the tournament with 6.5 points apiece.
In the 12-under kiddie division, Allen Albor topped the category after prevailing over Javier Adam Villadelgado in tiebreaks, with both players scoring six points.
The tournament was directed by Ely Jimenez with FIDE Master Rodolfo “Rudy” Toledo serving as chief arbiter.
“The event is aimed at developing good thinkers and tactics, improving the logical abilities and rational thinking and reasoning of the participants, and instilling a sense of self-confidence, self-worth and camaraderie,” chief arbiter FM Rodolfo “Rudy” Toledo, who supervised the chess fest, said./ASC, WDJ