CABANATUAN CITY — Local chess veteran Romulo Curioso Sr., father of former National Collegiate Athletic Association chess standout Jet Curioso Jr. and nine-year-old girl chess wonder Millery Gen Subia emerged as the top two winners in Group B of the 2nd Christian-Muslim Chess Blitz Tourney held at the Deluxe Hotel and Restaurant here on Wednesday.

Curioso Sr., 60, scored a perfect five, beating Millery Gen Subia in the final round of the 5-round Swiss System tournament that was organized in coordination with the Cabanatuan City Chess Club headed by its president, former youth top chesser, Senior Fire Officer 2 Benjamin Bauto.

Despite the loss, Millery Gen, who placed fourth in last year’s National Age Group Chess Hybrid finals, finished second with a total score of four points.

Meanwhile, unheralded Hamilton Amirias trounced Nueva Ecija’s top veteran chess player, election officer Leonardo Navarro in the penultimate round and won again in the last round for a perfect score of 5 points to rule the Group A competition of the Blitz chessfest which was held exclusively for homegrown players in the province.

Navarro eventually settled for second place with a total score of 4 points.

Placing third in Groups A and B, respectively, were Louie Rian and Edwin Reyes.

The chessfest was also graced by Palayan City mayoral aspirant Vianne J. Cuevas, who made the ceremonial first move with Bauto to kick off the tournament.

Cuevas, daughter of gubernatorial bet and outgoing Palayan City mayor Rianne J. Cuevas, also sponsored the participation of seven young chess players from the city in the one-day chessfest.

She said the chessfest serves as a wonderful avenue for building camaraderie and unity in sports as the country moves towards the “new normal.”

AUTHOR PROFILE

Steve A. Gosuico