ARENA GRANDMASTER (AGM) and Fide Master (FM) Robert Suelo Jr. ended his medal drought in the Team Competition after claiming the gold on board one in the Tatluhan Open Chess Team Tournament was held at the third floor League One Southgate Mall (formerly Alphaland Southgate Mall), near MRT Magallanes Station, Edsa, Makati City on Sunday.
The 1996 Philippine Junior Champion Suelo won the gold medal with undefeated record 6.5 points on six wins and a draw in seven outings.
In the seventh and final round, Suelo defeated Sherwin Tiu on Board 1 while Rene Malupa toppled Rommel Lucion on Board 2. Don Hamilton Arias, meantime prevent his team into a possible shut-out loss as he salvage a draw against Riomar Lago on Board 3. Suelo's Chessmatic LLP team placed 6th overall with 10 match points.
“Again I would like to dedicate my victory to my family, relatives and friends." said Suelo, an active member of the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) in Singapore who placed 4th overall in the FIDE rated Orbe Rapid Chess Cup last Saturday at the same venue.
Team United B spearheaded by John Perzeus Orozco, Eder De Jesus, Randy Culangan and team manager Gabriel Libre took the title, the top prize of P35,000 and a trophy during the closing rites.
Actually, Team United B dominated the Rapid Team event with a superior tie break against fellow 12 match points Sikretong Malupit led by Mc Dominique Lagula, Jayson Danday, Joseph Lawrence Rivera and team manager Eduel Santos.
National Arbiters Alexander "Alex" Dinoy, Alfredo Chay and Miel Bautista of the Chess Arbiter Union of the Philippines supervised the one-day chessfest sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.-Marlon Bernardino-