San Manuel, Tarlac — Displaying his vaunted chess skills, Arena Grandmaster Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. went unbeaten in a 24-board simultaneous chess exhibition here on Friday.
Bernardino finished with 22 wins and two draws in the event hosted by Mayor Doña Cresencia Reyes Tesoro at the San Manuel Cultural Center.
Bernardino, who is also a veteran sports writer and radio commentator, was held to a draw by Alexander Ledesma and Gem Matthew Cortez.
"Before I accepted a draw against online Arena Grandmaster Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr., I thought that I was actually in a better position to salvage a win,” said Ledesma, a chess coach from Moncada, Tarlac.
“But the idea of getting a draw against an online Arena Grandmaster who is also a certified Filipino and United States chess master was already a win for me that is why I accepted the draw."
Cortes, who is also from Moncada, was thrilled that he forged a draw against Bernardino.
"I am happy with my performance in the simultaneous chess exhibition matches," said Cortez.
Bernardino, in his message to aspiring chess players in Tarlac, reminded the participants and audience to always strive hard to achieve success in chess and in life.
Last March, Bernardino also took part in a 29-board chess simul in Santo Tomas, Pangasinan, winning 26 matches and drawing 3. He went to Santo Tomas upon the invitation of Mayor Dickerson Villar and Vice Mayor Timoteo Villar III.
Bernardino, meanwhile, is set to compete in the 2nd Bangkok Summer International Chess Open which will be held at the Royal Benja Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand from July 28 to Aug. 2, 2026.
He topped the 3rd Laos International Chess Open and finished 7th overall in the 16th Penang Heritage City International Chess Open Chess Championship in 2024.
Earlier, Tesoro and Asia's first grandmaster Eugene Torre made ceremonial moves to usher the start of the chess competition after the simul.
In his speech, Torre, reminded the youth to always follow the three kings in life: the spiritual king, mental king and physical king.
"Life is like a game of chess. You always have to make the right moves and follow the rules. If you fail, you get up and try again," said Torre, who is also a Chess Hall of Famer.
Joining Tesoro in organizing the chess simul and tournament are Jaasiel Laine Tolentino, Rafael "Rafa" Garcia, Anjelo Joshua Cabuyan Pabunan, and RD A. Viduya.
Tournament Director Jestoni Tolentino said that National Master Romeo Mercado Alcodia of Barangay Pacpaco in San Manuel topped the tournament with 5 wins and 1 draw.
Jun Jun Gamotea Jr., who also scored 5.5 points, copped runner-up honors after losing the tie-break to Alcodia.