Philippine chessers bag 4 golds in Singapore

The Philippines struck for four gold medals on top of a silver and four bronzes in the Singapore International Chess Festival at the Jurong East Sports Complex Sunday.

Winning for the PH squad were Michelle Yaon in the girls’ Under-17 division, Vince Angelo Medina in the Open Under-17, Fide Master Paulo Bersamina in the Open Under-14 and Dennis Gutierrez III in the Open Under-8.

“It’s a good sign for our young chess players,” said Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., president of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines. “They showed that we can compete and win in international competitions.”

Yaon, a promising find from Calamba City and a student of St. Simon Montessori School, split the point with India’s G Sushmitha in the final game to win the title with 6.5 points in eight games .

Medina, a student of Far Eastern University-Fern topped his division after a final draw with Jodi Setyaki Azarya of Indonesia while Bersamina capped a dominant performance with a victory over Ooi Zhi Yang Singapore to wind up with 8.0 points.

Gutierrez, a San Fabian, Pangasinan standout, beat Jiddan Firman of Indonesia to clinch the gold also with 8.0 points.

Bohol bet Jerad Docena clinched the country’s lone silver by finishing second behind Bersamina.

Delivering bronze medals were Marc Christian Nazario (Open U-17) Julius Gonzales (Open U-11), Iloilo’s Fiona Geeweneth Guirhem (Girls U-11) and Misamis Oriental’s Mae Ann Joy Baclayon (Girls U-8 ).

Woman Fide Master Marie Antoinette San Diego, an early favorite in the Girls’ U-14, was a big disappointment, however, as she finished with only 5.0 points in the nine-round event.

San Diego wound up two points behind eventual champion WFM Najiha Hisham Nur of Singapore and half a point behind compatriot Shania Mae Mendoza.

Bitoon 2nd in Campomanes Cup

Meanwhile, Grandmaster Richard Bitoon finished tied for second in the second Asean Men Campomanes Cup also in Singapore.

Bitoon wound up tied with GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia and Internatioal Master Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam with 6.0 points, just half a point behind champion GM Cao Sangâ of Vietnam.

source by Jasmine W. Payo, Philippine Daily Inquirer

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GM Wesley So to pursue studies abroad

Wesley So, the country’s youngest Grandmaster, is set to go abroad to concentrate on his studies for the coming year while still pursuing his career in chess.

“Mag-aaral na ako sa university. Nag-stop ako for two years. Right now, 18 na ako, itutuloy ko na ang studies ko,” So said in an interview with InterAKTV.

So, who recently took home a gold medal in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in the men’s individual blitz, said that he will either study in the United States or in Canada for college. He will also participate in chess tilts abroad to continue honing his skills.

“May offers ako doon. Pero ok naman pareho dahil ‘yung university nila, every month may mga laro at makakasali ako sa chess team nila,” said So.

So’s undertaking of pursuing his studies will appear to decrease his tournament appearances locally but he assured that he will still be available for international competitions like the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games.

“Yung mga international competitions, sasali ako para sa bayan. Kapag summer vacation, I can join local tournaments here,” So said.

One big tournament for 2012 will be the 40th World Chess Olympiad to be held in Istanbul, Turkey where the very best woodpushers converge.

When asked if he wants to compete in the Chess Olympiad, So’s answer was “sure.”

Two years ago, the Philippines finished a lowly 50th place with a men’s team composed of So, John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo, Richard Bitoon and Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

A women’ team of Cheradee Camacho, Catherine Perena, Shercila Cua, Rulp Ylem Jose and Jedara Docena also competed in the event finishing 44th.

The country hosted the biennial competition in 1992.

source by Reuben Terrado, InterAKTV

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