WNM Francois Marie Magpily emerged as the women’s champion in the fourth PECA-Chooks-to-Go national rapid chess championships.

Magpily finished with 6.5 points on six wins and one draw in the seven-round tournament organized by the Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA) in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Nuvali and Chooks-to-Go, ang “Manok ng Bayan.”

Magpily, seeded only 14th in the tough 99-player tournament, pocketed the top prize of P10,000.

The 18-year-old student of La Salle finished half a point ahead of WNM Arvie Lozano, who had six points; and a full point ahead of April Joy Claros, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Bea Mendoza, WIM Bernadette Galas and AGM Rowelyn Joy Acedo, who wound up with 5.5 points.

Magpily, a former Shell National Active chess champion, swept her first six assignments against Lea Marie Somoson, Lexie Grace Hernandez, Mary Joy Tan, WIM Kylen Joy Mordido, WFM Allaney Jia Doroy and Fronda before drawing with Galas in the seventh and final round.

Lozano won her last two matches against Hernandez and Mordido to clinch solo second place with six points.

April Joy Claros led four other players with 5.5 points, but clinched third place via tiebreak.

Claro, the 13-year-old Far Eastern University-Diliman standout who reached the quarterfinals of the 2020 FIDE World Cadets and Youth Rapid Chess Championships last November, had 5-1-1 win-draw-loss record.

Fronda, seeded second behind Galas with an ELO of 2123, also won her first five assignments before losing to Magpily and drawing with Mendoza.

Galas also had a 5-1-1 record for sixth place.

Thirteen players, led by Mordido and Tan, shared eighth to 20th places with five points.

It was a double celebration for the Magpily family as Francois’ younger sister, Franiel, topped the kiddies girls category.

Magpily, 11 and a student in Makati City finished ahead of Marie Kristine Lavandero of Cebu, Darren dela Cruz of Dasmariñas City, Bonjoure Fille Suyamin of General Trias and Ryien Bahita of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.

In the juniors girls category, Ma. Elaysa Villa topped the event.

Franchesca Largo of Sta. Rosa, Laguna and Samantha Umayan of Quezon City finished second and third, respectively.

Completing the top five finishers are Tan, fourth and Nicole Usman Uyana, fifth.

A total of P500,00 in cash prizes were handed out to the top finishers in seven categories, according to PECA president Dr. Fred Paez.