Chess players reap honors for country in several tournaments

By Joey Villar

FILIPINO chess players reaped honors for the country as Michael Concio, Jr. and the Philippine Para Team standouts Jasper Rom, Menandro Redor and Cheryl Angot all emerged triumphant in separate tournaments.

Mr. Concio, 17, ruled the Hanoi International Master (IM) Tournament in Vietnam after finishing unbeaten with seven points on five wins and four draws while Messrs. Rom, Redor and Ms. Angot topped their respective divisions in the Asian Online Championships for People with Disabilities over the weekend.

Backed by Dasmariñas congressman Pidi Barzaga, Mr. Concio needed just a ninth and final-round draw with Indonesian Aditya Bagus Arfan to claim the win and the 121.2 FIDE rating points that went with it.

In the concurrent Grandmaster Tournament also in Hanoi, another Filipino IM Daniel Quizon finished fourth with five points and also gained rating points.

Thanks to their efforts, the 17-year-old Mr. Concio zoomed to a 2,380 live rating while the 18-year-old Mr. Quizon to 2,420.

For Mr. Rom, he reigned supreme in the Physically Impaired Open division by ending up with 4.5 points in five rounds while Mr. Redor was a cut above the rest in the Visually Impaired Open category also with 4.5 points.

Ms. Angot, for her part, shocked heavy favorite WIM Irina Ostry of Kyrgyzstan in the last round to strike gold in the Physically Impaired women section likewise with 4.5 points.

Mr. Mendoza smashed Indian R.P. Kanishri to deliver the country’s only silver with 3.5 points.

“These are all for country and flag,” said national para team coach James Infiesto, who thanked the PSC, Philippine Paralympic Committee and the NCFP for their support.