HOMETOWN bet Cyril Garces edged fellow four-pointer Davao City player MOhamad Sacar via the tiebreak to lead the 1st Mayor's Cup Open Chess Open Tournament at the Pantukan Training Center in Compostela Valley province.

Garces had superior tiebreak of 10 against Sacar's 8.5, thus, the latter landed at the second spot.

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Jose Maria College (JMC) woodpushers Jay Bulicatin and Jerwell Andoy are occupying third and fourth places, respectively.

Bulicatin earned 3.5 points as of Round 4 while Andoy led five other three-pointers Adrian Dimakiling of the University of Mindanao (UM), Gil Rodis of Montevista, Mark Lagura of Nabunturan, Joe Art Capatan of JMC and Alanore Takasan of Nabunturan.

Sharing the 10th to 15th places were Nabunturan's Luis Nator, Maco's Antonio Matuco Jr., Pantukan's Rey Fernandez, Nabunturan's Kenneth John and Constancio Tabada and Montevista's Cesar Tabadan.

Some 40 players joined the event that opened last Saturday, Nov. 7, and will close on Friday.

The five-round Swiss System format competition is sponsored by organized by the Pantukan Chess Club Cooperative and the Municipality of Pantukan.

The top 15 are assured of cash prizes, according to co-chief arbiter Ronnie Tabudlong, director of the Blue Knight Chess Club (BKCC). (MLSA)