AGAGON TOPS 3RD LEG OF NCFP EXECUTIVE CHESS

VETERAN campaigner Eduardo Agagon settled for a quick draw against fellow National Master Quirino Sagario in the fifth and final round to rule the just concluded 3rd leg of National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Executives and Professionals Chess Challenge at the Greenhouse Grill, 31 Matalino St., Diliman, Quezon City, on Saturday.

Agagon posted a finally tally of 4.0 points with three wins and one draw after five rounds of play to claim his first NCFP Executives and Professionals Chess title in this event sponsored by lawyer Rudegelio Tacorda, president of Centralhill Properties Corporation. Tournament arbiters were Daisy Rivera and Roy Madayag of CAAP.

Leodegario Ricana, upset NM Stewart Manaog to finish tied for 2nd to 3rd places along with Willy San Juan. The duo (Ricana and San Juan) scored identical 3.5 points apiece in this event also supported by NCFP Chair Q.C. Congressman Mat Defensor, GM Eugene Torre, IM Rodolfo Tan Cardoso, Comelec Commissioner Mehol Sadain and lawyer Ernesto Salunat.

A singer-composer and recording artist, San Juan held NM Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr. into a draw.

Bernardino, on the other hand, who is best remembered beating the top seed Russian Grandmaster Sergei Shipov in the 2007 Sydney International Open Chess early this year, settled for 4th to 5th places together with NCFP incumbent executive director NM Samuel Estimo, winner over Isidro Erispe. The former two-time Olympian Estimo, who tops the first two legs and Bernardino, journalist and radio commentator finished with 3.0 points each.

Rounding off the top twelve winners were: NM Stewart Manaog (6th), NM Quirino Sagario (7th), NM Nick Nisperos (8th), lawyer Jose Aspiras (9th), Mar Quejada (10th), engineer Octavio Canta (11th) and Isidro Erispe (12th).

For future events, players may contact NCFP incumbent Executive Director lawyer Sammy Estimo at cel no. 0915-9360354.

Final Standings:
4.0 points---NM Eduardo Agagon
3.5 points---Leodegario Ricana
3.5 points---Willy San Juan
3.0 points---NM Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr.
3.0 points---NM Samuel Estimo
2.5 points---NM Stewart Manaog
2.5 points---NM Quirino Sagario
2.5 points---NM Nick Nisperos
2.5 points---Jose Aspiras
2.0 points---Mar Quejada
1.0 points---Octavio Canta
0.5 Isidro Erispe

(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)