Ferriol, Mejia, Samantila rule 7th Leviste chessfest

Gerald Ferriol, Giovanni Mejia, and Daryl Samantila topped their respective divisions in the 7th Dr. Jose Sr. Inter-School Chess Festival held over the weekend at the Ateneo Grade School Cafeteria. Ferriol, a player from University of Santo Tomas finished tied for first to fifth places with four other chessers at five points apiece in the college division. The University of Santo Tomas standout, however, claimed the title after emerging with a more superior tiebreak score. Finishing second place was Joseph Cayanan of Trinity University of Asia and while Narquingden Reyes of College of St. Benilde wound up third. Settling for fourth and fifth places, respectively were Chester Brian Guerrero of Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Jerome Baretto of University of the Philippines. All five of them, however, equally shared the total purse for the top four places worth P11,000. Mejia, on the other hand, topped the high school division. He finished the event with 5.5 points and tied for first to second places with MC Lagula of Far Eastern University. But Mejia, a woodpusher from De La Salle Greenhills, edged Lagula in the tiebreak, but the two halved the total cash prize for first and second places. Rounding up the top six are Bryan Barcelon of University of the East, Kimuel Lorenzo of Malabon High School, Kristian Cristobal of San Sebastian College, and Renato Cruz of Taytay High School, who all scored five points each. In the elementary level, Samantila of Adamson University drew with third placer Rhenzi Sevillano of University of San Carlos in the final round to finish with 5.5 points and beat Romulo Curioso of Cabanatuan High School in the tie break to claim his third title here. They were followed in the leader board by Haince De Leon of Marist School, Dennis Gutierrez Jr. of Stella Maris School, and Julius Gonzales of Parang Elementary School, in particular order. The six-round tournament is a project of the Ateneo de Manila Chess Teams under Grandmaster candidate and Ateneo Program Head for Chess Idelfonso Datu with the support of Jose Leviste Jr. (Ateneo Chess Teams Alumni Chairman) and supported by Richard Palou, University Athletics Director of Ateneo. - RCJ, GMA News