Kenneth John Tabada showed consistency throughout to nail down the 17th RA Jan Mar B. Hondonero Monthly Open Rapid Chess tournament held on December 21 at the NCCC mall in Tagum City.
The 30-year old chess coach and trainer from Nabunturan stayed undefeated and actually tied with townmate Jimzon Trangia and Jandee Honrada of Tagum City with 6 points apiece but emerged the winner in the tie-break. This is Tabada’s second tournament victory.
Trangia placed second with Honrada in third. The other winners included Ahmad Allan Diansay of Panabo City in 4th, Joe Ralph Santillan of Pantukan in 5th, Sumail Jr. Sekak of Kidapawan City in 6th and Aliyah Lumangtad of Tagum City in 7th.
Special awards winners included: Marco Monterola-Prieto (Top 16), Van Harrie Mandabon (Top 14), Gabriel Givero (Top 12), Art Joe Captan (Top 10), Christel Govlas (Top 8), Chezmyrr Navarroza (Top female and Julio Canque (Top Senior).
The field attracted a total of 88 players from the Davao region, Agusan and North Cotabato. While most of the games were low-key or failed to attract attention, their quality cannot be denied and much to their disappointment, the tournament’s highest-rated players, Paolo Prado (2142) and Alsado Ronnel (2132) failed to make it to the top 10.
The monthly tournament was initiated by Hondonero in 2022, himself a chessplayer since the age of 7, out of his love for chess. A nurse by profession, Hondonero’s passion for chess began when he played as a kiddie and as a student that brought him to such places as Zamboanga, Pangasinan, Iloilo and Manila.
The Tagum tournament was made possible with assistance from the provincial government of Davao de Oro, from Gov. Raul Mabanglo, provincial administrator Ivan Kleb Ulgasan, sports coordinator Kristine Anne Mabanglo, Rodel Balili, NCCC Tagum Mall, Lairah Ampo Oubing and Lonestar Purified Drinking Water.
Hondonero expressed his thanks to the various coaches, trainers and advisers that helped in making the tournament successful. (Jimmy K. Laking)
