by Marlon Bernardino

MANILA---International Master Rolando Nolte made the country proud by finishing third overall behind winner Russian born Konstantin Sek of FIDE at the end of the Maharlika Pilipinas Chess League's  Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Festival at the  Family Country Hotel in General Santos City on Saturday, Dec.17.

The 50-year-old Nolte, a close confidante of the late legendary Robert James "Bobby"Fischer, defeated third seed GM Vitaly Sivuk of Sweden in the ninth and final round to catch Sek and second pick GM Lucas Van Foreest of the Netherlands, who halved the point with IM Daniel Quizon, at the helm with seven points each.
The Russian-born Sek, who split the point with second seed GM Pier Luigi Basso of Italy, eventually took first, Van Foreest second and Nolte third after tiebreaks were applied.

The three, however, will split the total prizes for first to third places amounting to $40,000 or a cool P2.2 million--$20,000 for first, $12,000 for second and $8,000 for third—courtesy of boxing legend and former senator Manny Pacquiao.

Nolte still made the country proud regardless as he emerged the best Filipino finisher in the event organized by the MCPL headed by IM Hamed Nouri and Alex Dinoy and backed by President Bong Bong Marcos, the NCFP, the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
Sek got the help from Nolte, whose win prevented a two-way tie for first between the former and Van Foreest and the winner-over-the-rule would have been applied.
If it had happened, Van Foreest would have seized first since he vanquished Sek in the third round.

Overall, Sek racked up six wins including ones over IM Ronald Bancod, Quizon and GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. and two draws.
It was Sek’s win over Antonio in the penultimate round Friday that proved critical as he was on the losing end of that one before he found a way to squeeze himself out of trouble and snatch the win.

The 18-year-old Quizon wound up in a three-way logjam for No. 4 with GM John Paul Gomez, who downed IM Kim Steven Yap, Basso but the reigning Asian Junior blitz champion emerged with the best tiebreak to claim fourth spot.
IM Dragos Ceres of Moldova, who turned back FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri, finished in a seven-man group with six points apiece but took seventh spot with the best tiebreak.

Also in the same group were top seed GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan of Armenia, IM Michael Concio, Jr., IM John Daniel Bryant of the United States, GM Darwin Laylo, IM Eric Labog, Jr. and GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr.
Gabuzyan trounced Mark Jay Bacojo; Antonio and Bryant fought to a standoff; Concio; and Labog outlasted Danmaersk Mangao.-Marlon Bernardino-
Photo shows International Master Rolando Nolte (right), a close confidante of the late legendary Robert James "Bobby"Fischer, ponder his moves against third seed GM Vitaly Sivuk of Sweden during the the ninth and final round of the Maharlika Pilipinas Chess League's  Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Festival at the  Family Country Hotel in General Santos City on Saturday, Dec.17.  (Photo credit to FM Robert Suelo Jr.)

Final Standings: ( 9 Rounds Swiss System, 68 participants)
7.0 points---Konstantin Sek (Russia), GM Lucas Van Foreest (Netherlands), IM Rolando Nolte (Philippines)
6.5 points---IM Daniel Quizon (Philippines), GM John Paul Gomez (Philippines), GM Pier Luigi Basso (Italy)
6.0 points---IM Dragos Ceres (Moldova), GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan (Armenia), IM Michael Concio Jr. (Philippines), IM John Daniel Bryant (USA), GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines), IM Eric Labog Jr. (Philippines), GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Philippines)