Five chess masters join Rapido de Ajedrez II

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By Eduard Basilonia

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Five titled chess players from Roxas City and Capiz will compete in the second Rapido de Ajedrez II, the Capiznon Individual Rapid Chess Tournament, scheduled at 10 a.m. Jan. 25 at SM City Roxas.

The tournament is sponsored by Maayon Mayor Raymond “MonMon” Malapajo, who also serves as president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Capiz chapter and as the league’s national vice president for the Visayas cluster.

Now in its second edition, the tournament is exclusively open to Capiznon chess players and is designed to promote competitive play at the local level.

Players will compete in two age categories — 15 and under, and 16 and above — with a maximum of 64 participants in each division.

Each game will follow a rapid time control of 15 minutes per player, with a three-second increment added after every move.

The five chess masters include Capiz’s first National Master, Francis Jocson, who earned the title after winning five consecutive games against national masters at the 1999 Philippine Inter-City and Province Chess Championship in Cagayan de Oro City.

Also competing are Arena International Masters Roel Bryan Alsagon, a registered electrical engineer and professor at Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion, and Felixberto Baguyo Jr., acting ICT division manager of the Metro Roxas Water District, both of whom received their titles in 2025.

Michael Falsis, a registered civil engineer with the Roxas City government’s City Engineer’s Office, also earned his Arena International Master title this year.

Ronel Bryle Alsagon, a registered civil engineer from the Department of Public Works and Highways First Engineering District, holds the title of Arena FIDE Master.

A total of 59 rated chess players from Roxas City and the first and second districts of Capiz are expected to vie for the championship.

Tournament director Kenneth Calvez said, “The young players and the veterans are very thankful to Mayor MonMon Malapajo for this tournament, which serves as a platform for everyone to measure their preparation and ideas.”

Mayor Malapajo said, “We believe that the best planners are often deep thinkers. We support this sporting event to enhance the skills and confidence of all Capiznon chess players.”

Registration closed four days after the tournament schedule was announced, reflecting strong interest from the local chess community.

Organizers said a waiting list will be used to fill any vacant slots if registered players withdraw on tournament day.

Tournament management earlier announced that no registration fee will be collected, as all expenses are fully covered by Mayor Malapajo. (Photos courtesy of EB)