• Chess

THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup kicks off today with a double-header set at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Final Standings: (Six Round Swiss System)

5.5 points---NM Roberto Suelo Jr. (Philippines)

4.5 points---NM Edgar Reggie Olay (Philippines), Jimson Bitoon (Philippines), Leonard Reyes III (Philippines)

4.0 points---Rolly Parondo Jr. (Philippines), FM Nelson Villanueva (Philippines)

3.0 points---Alexander Chan (Singapore), Richard  Lean Boon Cheng (Singapore), Lincoln Yap (Philippines), Ramesh Aaditya (Singapore), Tan Teck Woon (Singapore)

2.5 points---Aldrin Wong (Singapore), CM Michael Freeman (New Zealand), Natanya Ng (Singapore)

2.0 points---Charles Heng Cho Yaw (Singapore)

1.5 points---Nicholas Goi (Singapore)

1.0 point---Leonidas Chua (Singapore)

Singapore---National Master (NM) Roberto Suelo Jr. of the Philippines continued his winning streak in Singapore as he emerged the overall champion in the July edition of Asean Chess Academy (ACA) Rapid Chess Tournament.

The 1996 Philippine Junior champion settled for a draw over compatriot and fellow Quezon City pride Leonard Reyes III in the sixth and final round of the tournament held on Sunday (July 16, 2017) at the Bukit Timah Shopping Centre in Singapore.

Using the disadvantageous black pieces, Suelo agreed a draw against Reyes after 20 moves of English Opening in the twenty (20) minutes time control format to enroute the title.

He received 450 Singapore dollar champions' purse for his effort. Suelo got undefeated in six games of play with five wins and a draw.

Earlier, Suelo defeated Charles Heng Cho Yaw of Singapore, Lincoln Yap of Cebu, Philippines, Alexander Chan of Singapore, Jimson Bitoon of Cebu, Philippines and Richard  Lean Boon Cheng of Singapore, respectively.

Other Filipino entrants were National Master (NM) and International Master (IM) candidate Edgar Reggie Olay of Davao, Philippines (4.5 points), Rolly Parondo Jr. of Iloilo, Philippines (4.0 points) and Fide Master (FM) Nelson Villanueva of Bacolod, Philippines (4.0 points) in the Filipino dominated event.

"God is so gracious for the fourth time." said Suelo, an active member of the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) in Singapore.

The former son of a shoe maker has four Singapore chess titles which he won in a span of three months, from May to July.

He won the Thomson Chess Fiesta-Cup Rapid event last May, ACA Hari Raya Rapid Open Chess 2017 last June and the Patrick Tay Chess Challenge 2017 (Open division) last July 8, all was held here in Singapore.

Suelo currently works at chess teacher in Singapore. Born and raised in Quezon City, Suelo is best to remember who help the Rizal Technological University (RTU) Mandaluyong woodpushers to steered the national championships title during the national inter-collegiate in the mid 90's. (end it)