MARK CHRISTIAN EVANGELISTA swept all his five games—including a final round win over Ali Mohamed Charistma—to reign supreme in men’s B2 of the 2021 Pilipinas Para Games (PPG) online chess competition on Sunday night.
Evangelista beat Martin Lucero, Ireneo Melchor Pizzaro, Jr., Abraham Peligro and Charles Vincent Talusan to claim the gold medal and pocket the top purse worth P30,000 courtesy of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Pizzaro and Peligro bagged silver and bronze, respectively and banked P20,000 and P10,000. They also got the chance to make the national para team as they face the country’s top players before the year ends.
“We thank the PSC for supporting our grassroots development program of the national para chess team,” tournament director James Infiesto said. “The future of Philippine para chess could come from this new batch players.”
John Franz de Asis ruled the men’s P1 division section followed by Eric Abanco and Jordaine Tupaz.
The other winners were Geronimo Torres, Kenneth Namisato and Emmanuel Closa Jr. (B1-men); Mark Christian Evangelista, Ireneo Melchor Pizzaro Jr. and Abraham Peligro (B2-men); Aimee Dumagpi and Clarence Orena (P1-women); Siena Mae Requiron, Regina Abogado and Marilou Lucero (B2-women); and Yolanda Pespes, Kyla Jane Langue and Abigail Magno (B1-women).