MANILA – Fide Master David Elorta emerged as the top woodpusher in the National Master Edmundo Gatus Birthday Chess Celebration online chess tournament on Tuesday (Dec. 28) evening, 2021 virtually held at lichess.org.
Elorta won his last three games against Basilio Pandan Jr., Nazario Ubanan, and Kevin Arquero to rule the 2 -hour Arena event using the 2 minutes plus 1-second increment bullet time control format. He scored a total of 68 points against 138 other contenders from different parts of the country.
Arquero, on the other hand, settled for second place with 65 points while Ubanan rounded off the top three woodpushers with 60 points.
In fourth place is Ariel Santander who had 59 points.
Rounding up to the top nine (9) are fifth Junmark Baldesimo (53 pts.), sixth National Master Gerardo Cabellon (52 pts.), seventh Sherwin Tiu (50 pts.), eight Fide Master Rico Salimbagat (49 pts.), and ninth International Master Ricardo de Guzman (43 pts.). (PR) – bny
