GRAND CHAMPION Michael Punzalan (right) receives his cash prize and trophy from Chief of Staff Alexander Cauguiran during the awarding ceremony of the mayor’s cup chess tourney.
With them are (L-R) Marquee Mall’s Danielle Guiwan, Councilor Bonifacio and Angeles City Sports Office Head Rosever Pascua. Photo by Ric Gonzales
ANGELES CITY – A 19-year-old marketing student of the Jose Rizal University (JRU) topped the 2nd Fiestang Kuliat Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan Chess Tournament on Sunday at the Marquee Mall here.
Michael Punzalan of Sto. Tomas, Pampanga won the top prize of P7,000 after scoring 6.5 points in the tournament joined by 114 players.
Robert Halili of Barangay San Joaquin, Mabalacat scored 6 points to get the second top prize of P5,000. Clement Valledor also scored six points but was adjudged third placer under the 7th Round Swiss System.
Alexander Cauguiran, chief of staff and vice chairman of Fiestang Kuliat committee, Marquee’s marketing officer Danielle Guiwan and Councilor Alfie Bonifacio presented the cash prizes, trophies and medals to major and minor winners.
Rosever Pascua, head of the Angeles City Sports Office, said the tournament’s rules disallowing top players in the country boosted the confidence of aspiring and non-ranked chess players.
“The tournament is designed to develop new great players in chess where the Filipinos can excel in world competitions,” said Pascua in the dialect.
Cauguiran thanked the participants and sponsors of the tournament which attracted players from Metro Manila and Pangasinan.
