by Marlon Bernardino
SINGAPORE---Roberto Ramos Suelo Jr., an Arena Grandmaster (AGM) and Fide Master (FM) elect, helped the Philippine team (Isaiah 40) win the Nanyang Racial Harmony Team Chess Challenge 2018 Open division was held at the Nanyang Community Club here in Singapore last Sunday, July 29, 2018.
Suelo, a former top player of Barangay Malamig, Rizal Technological University (RTU) chess team in Mandaluyong City, defeated Woong Zhi Wei William in their Modern defense duel in Board 3 to spearheaded the Philippine chess team (Isaiah 40) to a 3-1 victory over Diggy Diggy Hole 2 in the seventh and final round.
Earlier results, International Master (IM) elect Edgar Reggie Olay downed Fide Master (FM) Ashvin Sivakumar in their Trompovsky Opening in Board 1 while International Master Rico Mascarinas (IM) toppled Ende Matthew Lau in their Benoni defense clash in Board 4.
International Master (IM) Liu Xiangyi prevented a possible shut-out loss for his team as he edged Fide Master (FM) Christopher Castellano in their London System Opening encounter in Board 2.
With the victory, Philippine team's (Isaiah 40) performance boosted the nation's morale, said Team Manager Jaime "Bong" Tiburcio.
"Once again our flag has been raised in this foreign land after knowing that our Filipino kababayan dominated the Nanyang Racial Harmony Team Chess Challenge 2018 Open division," he said.
The winning Filipino chess players received the top prize $500 Singapore dollar plus elegant trophy for their efforts.
Castellano and Mascarinas chipped in 5.5 points each, Suelo got 5 points and Olay notch 4.5 points to raised their total game points 20.5 points.
Following closely was 2nd placer I Move You Resign (20 points) ledy by Grandmaster (GM) elect Kevin Goh Wei Ming, Woman International Master (WIM) Qianyun Gong, Keng Boon Lau and Olimpiu Urcan, 3rd placer Diggy Diggy Hole 1 (19.5 points) International Master (IM) Tin Jingyao, Fide Master (FM) Qing Aun Lee, Jun Hao Tan and Jun Wei Lee, 4th placer ACA Team A (18 points) comprised by Franz Grafil, Woman International Master (WIM) Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Meng Boon Marcus Chen and Yian Hau Tan , fifth placer Team Formidable (18 points) Grandmaster (GM) Buenaventura "Bong Villamayor, International Master (IM) Enrique Paciencia, Fide Master (FM) Arlan Cabe and Fide Master (FM) Gervacio Calderon Fernandez and sixth placer Diggy Diggy Hole 2 (18 points) of Sivakumar, Liu, Woong and Lau.
The yearly tournament organized by Singapore Chess Federation (SCF) and Nanyang Community brought together around 116 athletes from Singapore, Malaysia, China, Denmark, England, Spain, Argentina, Russia, France, India and Philippines.
International Organizer (IO) Thomas Hoe is the tournament director while International Arbiter (IA) Nisban Jasmin is the chief arbiter. (Marlon Bernardino)