Yap wins Kita and Katag chess tournament

INTERNATIONAL chess Master Kim Steven Yap claimed the title of the “Kita Ang Katag” Open Chess tournament following his dramatic victory over Ronald Ganzon in the tie break Armagaedon game in the Final stage of the tournament last Wednesday at the Knight Attack Chess Cafe in Robinson Galleria Cebu.

The win could have been impossible if not for the wildcard granted by the tournament organizer Dr. Darcy Tabo-Tabo on Yap, who placed only 15th after the 7-Round Swiss System first stage last Tuesday.

Yap scored only 4.5 points, tying with four other players. However, after the tie breaker, Yap, the tournament No.2 seed had the lowest tie break points owing to his four wins, two loses and a draw for him to join the Top 16 list going into the second round.

After the round robin simultaneous pairings – NM Merben Roque (2.5pts) came out as champion in Group A, IM Yap (2.5) for Group B, Carlos Moreno (2.0) topped Group C; and Ronald Ganzon (2.0) for Group D.

In the final stage, IM Yap and Gazon tied with 2.5 points while Roque only had one point and Moreno with zero points. Yap however defeated Ganzon in the Armagaedon game of Blitz to win P10,000.

Rommel Ganzon pocketed P5,000 for winning Stage 1, IM Yap, Roque, Ronald Ganzon and Moreno each had P2,500 for topping their respective groups in Stage 2. Fiel, Makinano, Rommel Ganzon and Cadiz also got a wrist watch each for their runner-up finish on the second stage.