Natividad rules Cebu Chess Infinitum tourney
Multi-titled Cebuano chess player Richard Natividad added feather in his cap after emerging as champion in the 2022 Cebu Chess Infinitum Tournament over the weekend at Ayala Center Cebu.
Natividad, a mainstay of the Toledo City Trojans currently seeing action in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) GM Wesley So Cup, completed the nine-round Swiss system competition with the highest output of 7.5 points to clinch the title. He pocketed P10,000 for his efforts.
Michael Joseph Pagaran received P7,000 for winding up second with 7.0 points.
Redentor Nailon, Joel Pacuribot, and International Master Joel Pimentel figured in a three-way tie with identical 6.5 points but Nailon bagged the third place honors courtesy of a superior tiebreak points.
Rounding up the top 12 finishers with 6.0 points each were Dennis Navales, Venancio Loyola, National Master Merben Roque, Maria Kristine Lavandero, Apple Rubin, Chris Aldritz Pondoyo, and Allan Salientes.
Rubin and Salientes also came out as the top female and senior players, while Luke Symon Lozada and Loisse Antonette Lozada were the best performers in the 16 Under and 12 Under age groups with 5.0 and 4.5 points, respectively.
Introduced by chess patron Boojie Lim in Cebu back in 2000, Infinitum is a new variant of this famous boardgame. It is unique compared to traditional chess because it uses a semi 10 x 10 board and standard chess pieces but has only six pawns with an additional piece called the wizard on each side.
Event organizer IM Kim Steven Yap said they are planning to hold more Infinitum tournaments in the coming months.