CHESS VETERAN DIES IN TOURNAMENT
Cepca member Felix Balbon dies while playing in chess club’s annual Grand Finals
UP UNTIL his last breath, Felix Balbona showed how huge his passion for chess was.
The head of the famed chessplaying family died after a cardiac arrest while playing Jun Kidlat in the grand finals of the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association last Sunday at the Handuraw Pizza Cafe.
Balbona, 56, and his daughter Jessa were part of Group B of the Battle of Champions along with Kidlat, Mike Tinga, Regelito Hortelano, Ruel Hortelano, Elmer Odango, Jerry Maratas, Michael Ventulan, Edwin Cablao, Romy Pialan and Jojo Paredes.
Kidlat said he suspected something was wrong with Balbona when he picked up a pawn and placed it near a rook, which is a wrong move.
When he looked at Balbona, he noticed something was wrong and immediately shouted for help.
“I wasn’t able to notice at first because he was looking down at the chess board, but when I looked at him, I noticed something was wrong so I shouted for help,” Kidlat said.
Felix’s wife, Juliet, and other members of the family rushed the chess player to the Perpetual Succour Hospital but he was declared dead on arrival.
The incident saddened the Cepca community since they lost a close friend and a valued supporter of their activities.
Aside from the Grand Finals, Cepca was also celebrating its Christmas Party and the launching of its Silver Anniversary commemorative magaizne.
“I am deeply saddened by his sudden passing. He was a pure chess lover that even with his last breath, he was playing the sport that he really loved. But more than that, he was such a good and humble family man. He was a great loss to Cepca. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his bereaved family,” Cepca President Jerry B. Maratas said.
Balbona regularly joined chess tournaments in Cebu and influenced his kids to also join tournaments. His kids, Jessa, Felix Shaun, Marq Gabriel and Jhon Francis, are a few of the top players in Cebu. ESL of Superbalita.