Saturday, November 17, 2012

2012 Lapu-Lapu Championships: A Quick Diagnosis

ALLAN PASON, 16, chess prodigy
10 hours from now, the annual chess championship in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu will commence. The said tournament celebrates the city's annual fiesta, every November. Expected to participate in the chess event are Lapu Lapu chess club's biggest and brightest chess players. Non-Lapu Lapu players, master calibers , Bryll John Arellano and Allan Salientes, are expected to join as well. Among Lapu Lapu chess club's most notable players are Ariel Abellana, Allan Pason, Ramil Resuera, Peterson Sia, Kraig Quinain, Henry Infante, and Aldwin Daculan. In addition, very dangerous club players such as Nilo Bonganciso and James Abrantes  are expected come to the party, too.

Allan Salientes is perhaps easily the favorite in the championship. But he will have to face tough opposition  in the shape of Ramil Resuera (NM killer and a pupil of ex- National Junior Champion, Ben Dimaano), Allan Pason (ex Palarong Pambansa Champ), and Peterson Sia (Cebu City-Class A-Rated player), plus the very solid players, Aldwin Daculan and Kraig Quinain, not to mention 3-time Lapu Lapu Monthlies Champ, Ariel Abellana. 

Statistics wise though, Salientes is the choice. He won the Consolacion Open, ahead of FM Antonio Makinano and Reynaldo Flores, and was ex-Blitz king of Cebu. I guess the "only" disadvantage players outside Lapu Lapu might have, would be finding it difficult to adjust to the "new" environment they will set upon, after all, Cebu City and Lapu Lapu City are two very different islands! Not to mention, the awkward psychological atmosphere behind the tournament that these "visiting" players might experience. In other words, "homecourt advantage" for the Lapu Lapu players. Although I think it would take more than just petty psychology to beat the Cebu City players. After all, they're veterans!, and some of them are actually masters!

Anyways, if you would ask me whom I would predict to become the City Champion, I can give no straight answer, and only educated guesses.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL.

© Kraig Quinain
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