Nava, Romero rule 2013 Semi-Finals National Chess Championships

by Marlon Bernardino

International Master elect Roderick Nava of Carmona, Cavite and Gladys Hazelle Romero of Tanauan City, Batangas captured this year's 2013 Semi-Finals National Chess Championships for men's and women's title held at the Ponciano Bernardo Elementary School, P. Tuazon Blvd. Cubao, Quezon City on Wednesday.

Nava, a former Far Eastern University (FEU) stalwart defeated Rodolfo Panopio Jr. of Calamba, Laguna in the eight and penultimate round then split the point with IM Emmanuel Senador of Iloilo in the ninth and final round to finished with 7.0 points on account of five wins and five draws to receive the top prize of P10,000, trophy plus slot to the 2013 National Chess Championships finals dubbed as Battle of the Grandmasters on September in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

"Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng mga opisyales ng NCFP sa maganda nilang pamamalakad sa chess sa ating bansa sa maging na pamumuno nina Chairman/President (Prospero) Pichay at Secretary-General (Abraham) Rep. Tolentino," said Nava who is best to remember by winning the 12th Rakan Muda GACC (Grand Asean Chess Challenge) World Inter-Varsity Chess Championships 2007 at the Auditorium Perdana Siswa, University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Untitled player Narquingden Reyes from Rizal province place second with a total of 6.5 points via superior tie break points over Senador who ended up third, fourth place DepEd employee NM Johny Habla of Novaliches Novelty Chess Club, fifth place Lyceum of the Philippine University top player IM Joel Pimentel of Bacolod City, sixth place another FEU bet IM Richelieu Salcedo III  and Philippine Airforce mainstay NM Raymond Salcedo.

In the women's side, Romero, also top player of FEU drew with Shania Mae Mendoza of Santa Rosa, Laguna in the final canto to notch 5.5 points in seven outings and bring home the championship's trophy, P7,000 top purse plus a tiket to the 2013 National Chess Championships finals dubbed as Battle of the Grandmasters on September in Lingayen, Pangasinan.National University varsity player Jean Karen Enriquez settled for solo second place with 5.0 points followed by Mendoza with 4.5 points.

No less than DepEd ASEC Tonisito Umali, also the NCFP Director/Chairman of Youth Committee lead the closing rites with Asia's First International Master Rodolfo Tan Cardoso.

Supporting the FIDE rated event organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Cavite 7th district rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. are Bayan Muna party list rep. Neri Javier Colmenares, DepEd ASEC Tonisito Umali, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), DepEd NCR Regional Director Dr. Luz, S. Almeda, Ponciano Bernardo Elementary School principal Linaflor E. Cabildo, Asst. Chief P.E. School Sports Dr. Jocelyn V. Marcial, Director IV Dr. Luz S. Almeda and OIC office of the Asst. Regional Director Mr. Rizalino Jose T. Rosales.

Tournament Director is NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales, Chief Arbiter is IA Gene Poliarco while Master of Ceremony and Event Emcee is NCFP Deputy Secretary-General/Treasurer Red Dumuk.