Negros Chess Championship in the Philippines
A police officer ruled this year’s 12th Negrense Professional (Degree Holder) Individual Chess tournament that ended Sunday night at Top’s Millennium Plaza Bowling Lanes Drive-in Restaurant along 10th Street, Capitol Shopping Center here.
Police Officer 1 Ernie Abanco of Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City wrapped up the title via Bucholz-tie with 34 points as against 31 points of former champion Ted Ian Montoyo following a tie after 7 Round with both garnering 6 points.
Abanco, a police officer assigned at Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) Operations and Plan Branch won his first round match by default against journalist Radjie Caram; defeated Ronnie Villa in Round 2, Club Master Nunilon Fulo III in Round 3, former champion Ted Ian Montoyo in round 4, lost his match against Marvin Ting in Round 5, defeated Eden Agape Tumbos in Round 6 and beat Danny Maersk Mangao in the final round.
A former varsity player of West Negros University until 2006, Abanco had joined numerous tournaments. He placed 2nd runner-up in the 1st Negros Closed Individual Chess Championship last December 2011 hosted by Mr. Antonio Aguirre at Robinsons Place, Bacolod; 2nd runner-up in the 2010 Sugarlandia Chess tournament; 1st runner-up in the 2nd George S. Aguirre/Atty. Eugenio Villasor Villanueva, Jr., (GAEV) Memorial Negros Open Individual Chess tournament in 2010; champion in the 2007 Bacolod Open Chess tournament; champion in the 2004 Western Visayas Private Schools Athletic Association (WVPRISAA) meet; champion in the 2004 JRR Dizon Memorial Chess tournament; champion in the 2003 Negros Open Chess tournament; grand finalist in the 2003 Shell National Youth Active Chess and 1st runner-up in the 2002 University Games (UNIGAMES).
Abanco received the cash prize of P3,000 and “King” trophy (42-inch, 4-legged) donated by Roy S. Villa, President & CEO Buglas Bio-fuels Plantation, Inc., while Montoyo placed 1st runner-up and took the cash prize of P2,000.00 + “Queen” trophy (36-inch, 4-legged) donated by Sungem Pharma.