Bacojo, Mejia book national team spots

Mark Jay Bacojo and Cherry Ann Mejia earned spots in the national team after ruling their respective divisions in the PSC-NCFP selection chess championships grand finals at the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence last Monday.

Bacojo, a FIDE Master, drew with International Master Michael Concio, Jr. in the 13th and final round and then the former edged the latter with a higher tiebreak score after the two ended up tied for first with nine points each to top the men’s side.

Mejia, for her part, was the solo champion in the women’s section after finishing with seven points that she capped with a draw with April Joy Claros in the ninth and last round.

Concio, the reigning national juniors champion tipped to become as the country’s next Grandmaster, wound up second while another potential GM in the making, Christian Gian Karlo Arca, took third place with eight points.

Veteran IM Barlo Nadera and FM Austin Jacob Literatus took fourth and fifth with eight points apiece while FM Alekhine Nouri and IM Rolando Nolte ended up sixth and seventh, respectively, with 7.5 points each.

Completing the women’s podium were Francois Marie Magpily and Kate Nicole Ordizo, who both had six points.

The top seven in the men’s claimed a seat in the national pool while the top three in the women’s also made the cut, according to National Chess Federation of the Philippines chief executive officer GM Jayson Gonzales.