So, Garcia, Bersamina, Reyes wins the Pichay and Davis Chess Cup

I believe this is the first tournament victory in the country this year for Wesley So, the Pichay and Davis Cup. It looks like So was the lone grandmaster to participate in the event as there's no mentioned of other grandmasters that is supposed to join the Pichay and Davis Cup as earlier reported. Quite interesting was the exhibition chess match between So and Pocket Fritz 4. Wesley's manager, Reggie Tee challenge his kid for $100 (around P4,500) should he beat the machine. Wesley failed to bring home some extra, though. We're not in the venue to write about the event but Marlon Bernardino has this reports:

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

SUPER GRANDMASTER Wesley So, Fide Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia, reigning RP Boy 12 and under champion Paolo Bersamina and Narquinden Reyes emerged winners in Sunday’s 1^st Pichay and Davis Cup chess festival at the Blue Wave Mall along Macapagal Avenue near Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

The 16-year-old So, currently world’s no. 64 with an Elo Fide rating of 2665 defeated GM-elect Ronald Dableo in the finals (2-game match, seven minutes with three seconds increment), 1.5-0.5, to captured the all Master Group A division title and the top purse of P15,000 plus elegant trophy and Nokia Mobile phone in the one-day event hosted by businessman Davis de Leon and National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.

“I'm really happy to have played well against Ronald (Dableo) in the finals,” said the Bacoor, Cavite whiz kid.

Alex Dinoy acts as the tournament director while International arbiters Willie Abalos, Gene Poliarco and Erwin Carag serve as tournament arbiters.

To reach the finals, So bested NM Rudy Ibanez (1.5-0.5) in the round-of-32, FM David Elorta (1.5-0.5) in the round-of-16, IM Oliver Dimakiling (2-1) in the round-of-8 and IM Richard Bitoon (1.5-0.5) in the round-of-4, respectively.

So failed to continue his winning streak when he bowed to Pocket Fritz 4, engine High Arc 13 (0.5-1.5) in their 2- games exhibition chess match. If So beat the said chess engine, he can get a bonus worth $100 US Dollar courtesy of long-time chess patron and computer expert Reginald “Reggie” Tee.

No less than NCFP president/ chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., NCFP vice president for Visayas Bro. Rolly Dizon and La Salle Greenhills chess program manager Vic Lahoz led the opening rites.

In the 12-year-old and below (kiddies division), Bersamina, the top player of Pasay City defeated Juan Carlos Presente of Caloocan City to captured his third straight kiddy title plus champion’s purse of P4,000. Bersamina finished 6.5 points in seven outings.

He also topped the Baguio kiddie chess last March 6 and Makati Kiddie chess last March 13.

In the Open Group B division, Garcia, the top player of Ateneo de Manila University subdued journeyman Roel Abelgas to finished 6 points and went home P7,000.

Reyes, the pride of College of St. Benilde, on the other hand dominates the 20-year-old and below (junior division) with 6.5 points to pockets top prize of P4,000.

The trio (Bersamina, Garcia and Reyes) also received elegant trophies plus Nokia Mobile Phone courtesy of De Leon and Pichay.

The four division categories attracted by a total of 300 wood pushers in the event backed up by Blue Wave Mall.