FROM (L-R) Marc Christian Nazario, NCFP President Butch Pichay, Jan Emmanuel Garcia and NCFP Secretary General GM Jayson Gonzales. — FACEBOOK.COM/NCFPCHESS

MARC CHRISTIAN NAZARIO has gained a reputation locally as one of the best, if not the best, bughouse chess players in the country today.

On a rainy, stormy on Saturday night, the 32-year-old former national junior champion showed why as he and Olympiad veteran Jan Emmanuel Garcia ruled the WR Bughouse Open at the MICE Center in Quezon City.

Messrs. Nazario and Garcia, an International Master (IM), outlasted Benilde Blazers’ John Laurence Donguines and Daniel Baylosis by winning the last two matches in their best-of-three title showdown and claimed the top prize of P100,000.

Mr. Nazario, along with a different partner, was one of the only two Philippine pairs that made the quarterfinals in the stronger inaugural WR Bughouse Championship in Taguig last June that further underscored his reputation in the sport also known as “transfer chess.”

“From losing early, barely making Top 8, then taking down the teams that beat us before, it was a proud moment for me,” said the National Master who is from Quezon City.

Metaboys’ Samson Lim III and Jerich Cajeras, who finished first after the qualification round, blanked DCSK’s Noel dela Cruz and Timothy John So Kua in two outings to finish third place in this one-day meet backed by WR Chess’ Wadim Rosenstein, the PSC, Quezon City and the NCFP.

More than 100 participants battled through eight grueling rounds for the eight seats to the playoff stage.

Chronosphere’s IM Paulo Bersamina and Rafiel Irvin Lacorte, Datamatics Red’s Marc Kevin Labog and John Michael Magpily, Ruy Lopez Kidz’ Zach Evan Orzame and Marco Piolo Sanido, and Stopper’s IM Michael Concio, Jr. and FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri also made the playoff cut were the other four teams who made the quarters. — Joey Villar

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