• Chess

by Marlon Bernardino

Second seed International Master (IM) Gilbert Tarigan and FIDE (FM) Master Tobing Lumban of Indonseia will leads Indonesian contingent to challenge defending champion and tournament top seed International Master (IM) Daniel Quizon of the Philippines when the  Eastern Asia Juniors Chess Championships gtes underway on December 9 to 16  at the Faith Academy in Malvar, Batangas.

In the girls division, Indonesian Ummi Fissabilillah is top pick ahead of defending champion Filipina (Woman International Master (WIM) Kylen Joy Mordido. Ummi will come directly from the SEA Games where she represents her country. Two other Indonesian girls are Woman Fide Master (WFM) Christine Elisabeth and Vania Vindy Chandra.

The tournament is organized by Active Chess Center for Asia, headed by Saturnino Belen Jr., under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines in cooperation with the Philippine Sports Commission and PAGCOR. “Holding the Eastern Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championships in the Philippines will give more opportunities for our talented juniors and girls to earn international chess titles,” Bong Belen said. Players will stay at his luxurious Lima Park Hotel in Malvar, Batangas.

Also expected to participate in the 9-round Swiss System tournament are players from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Chinese Taipei and Brunei. The juniors and girls champions will receive Grandmaster and Women’s Grandmaster norms, respectively, in addition to the International Master and Women’s International Master.

Quizon, 15, earned his International Master title and a GM norm in the 2018 Eastern Asia Juniors Chess Championship held last August in Gangneung, South Korea. Mordido, 17, earned her Woman International Master title and a WGM norm after winning the girls division in Korea.

Concurrent with the tournament, a FIDE Arbiters Seminar will be conducted 13-15 December 2019 at the Faith Academy in Malvar, Batangas by Asian Chess Federation Executive Director Cast Abundo.

For registration inquiries and fee to join this international event, interested players may call Chief Organizer Ricky Navalta at Nos. 0917-329-1150 and 0920-923-1150.-Marlon Bernardino-