Yap tops cash-rich Surigao Open

CEBUANO International Master Kim Steven Yap bagged the solo championship in the cashrich 26th Barangay Taft Surigao City Open Chess Tournament.

Yap came home P50,000 richer after finishing the eightround Swiss System tournament with 7.5 points on seven wins and a draw.

The Cebuano wood pusher was trailing Juhnell Balquin by half a point after six rounds. Balquin had a perfect score, while Yap had 5.5 points after drawing IM Oliver Dimakiling.

In their head-to-head clash, Yap used the Gundfeld Opening to beat Balquin and gained a solo lead with 6.5 points entering the final round against Cebuano GM Enrico Sevillano, who had 5.5 points.

Yap, who was on the white side, used the French Opening at the top board and beat GM Sevillano. Balquin, who was hoping for Yap to lose, defeated Henry Lopez in Board 2 to finish second. Cebuano campaigner Brylle Arellano also scored a victory over Jeryll Limbaga in Board 4, while IM Dimakiling drew with Jayson Salubre in Board 3 in the final round

Balquin, who scored a total of 7.0 points, settled for second and the P25,000 cash prize. Arellano finished with 6.5 points and pocketed P15,000, while Cebuano GM Richard Bitoon, IM Dimakiling, Salubre, Nazario Ubanan and Mark Trangia each had 6.5 points to share the fourth to eight places. They also split the P20,200 cash prize. GM Sevillano and Lopez shared the ninth and 10th places with 5.5 points.

Aside from the individual prizes, the tournament, which is deemed as the biggest barangaybased tournament that continuously draw GMs, IMs and other titled Filipino players, also offered cash prizes to the Top Senior, Top Female and Top Junior Players.

Cebuano veteran Erwin Ababat was the Top Senior, while Exiquilla Apao was the best female player and Mark Trangia had the best score among the junior players.