CHESS CHAMP. FIDE Master Ivan Travis Cu competes in the open division of the JCI Senate Lipa Open Rapid chess team tournament at the Lipa City Convention Center on Monday (June 17, 2024). Cu led Team Seirin to victory. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Team Seirin, led by FIDE Master Ivan Travis Cu, ruled the open division of the JCI Senate Lipa Open Rapid chess tournament at the Lipa City Convention Center on Monday.
Tyrhone James Tabernilla and Zeus Alexis Paglinawan are the other members of the team coached by International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia.
Team Seirin finished with 7 points and received PHP50,000 plus trophy and medals
Team Seirin beat Blahlala, 3-0, (1st round); Team Gold Eagle, 2-1, (2nd); UST Team F, 2.5-0.5, (3rd), Team Pakners, 2.5-0.5, (4th), UST Team B, 2-1, (5th), Tira-Tira Sampaloc C, 2.5-0.5, (6th); and The Teddy Bears, 2-1, (7th).
"It's truly a team effort," said the 15-year-old Cu, who earned the FIDE Master title after finishing second in the Hanoi International Master chess tournament in Vietnam last month.
Cu, a grade 10 student of Xavier School, tallied 5.5 points in Board 1, Tabernilla garnered 4.5 points in Board 2, and Paglinawan secured 6.5 points in Board 3.
UST Team A, composed of Mark Gerald Reyes, Carl Daluz, and Allan Gabriel Hilario, placed second while Tira-Tira Sampaloc C (Kelly Rancalp, Narciso Gumila, and Timothy Baclayon) was third.
Team Red Horse ranked fourth followed by The Teddy Bears, UST Team F, Santa Rosa Lions B, Team Pakners, Sir Nats Team A, and Team Larry Dumadag.
In the Youth (U18) division, the top three winners were Rian Paul Tenorio, Ariel Santander, and Clyde Jared Torena.
Mayor Eric Africa and Asia's first Grandmaster Eugene Torre made the ceremonial moves during the opening ceremony of the event held in celebration of Lipa City's founding anniversary.
Also present were Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers past president Roger Reyes, International Master Roderick Nava of the Kamatyas Chess Club, Chief Arbiter Ryan Dimayuga, Deputy Arbiter Allan Oseña, 13-time Philippine Open Champion Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr., former vice mayor Kuya Boy Manguerra, and tournament director Danilo Reyes. (PNA)
