By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- Inspired by World No. 2 Wesley So's spectacular victory in the 2017 US Championship in St. Louis on April 10, Filipino chessers based here have started revving up for the 45th Annual World Open on June 29-July 4, 2017 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
"Matitindi na ang mga tira nila (Their moves are getting impressive)," reported Carmelo "Jun" Galinea, founder of Elmhurst Chess Club.
The Filipino woodpushers are led by GM Mark Paragua, highly-regarded former Scout Ranger Rico Salimbagat, Ilonggos Gilbert Buenaflor Gonzales, Anthony Gallon, Leo Buencocillo, NCR's Albert Rivera, Gerson Caballero, Jhan Paragua, Bert Labuac, Gerry Gamaro, Mike Adarlo, Cesar Apalla, and Andy Punzalan.
"Halos lahat sila last year naka kuha ng magandang puwesto (Most of them performed very well last year) and I expect them to shock their rivals in Philadelphia," added Galinea, known as the "godfather" of Elmhurst chess.
BLITZ
The players gathered at Galinea's apartment on Elmhurst St. in Queens every Monday and played blitz from five o'clock in the afternoon until 11 o'clock in the evening.
The event has a $225,000 prize fund unconditionally guaranteed! Organizers said FIDE norms will be given to top finishers in the Open Section.
So, a former member of RP Olympic Team and now plays for the United States, reached a playoff after taking a quick draw against Daniel Naroditsky in Round 11 of the US Championship.
That left his fate in the hands of Varuzhan Akobian and Alexander Onischuk, who could have claimed the title if they'd won with the black pieces.
Akobian lost to Nakamura and Onischuk drew against Kamsky, meaning that a rapid playoff against 41-year-old Alexander was all that stood in the way of So and his first US Championship title.
