Pinoy chessers finish 1-2 in Italy tournament
05/19/2009 03:47 PM
GMA news.tv –
MANILA, Philippines – Rolando Salvador and Virgilio Vuelban posted a 1-2 finish for the Philippines in the recent Circolo Bertellini Salsomaggiore International Open Chess in Italy.
Salvador and Vuelban actually finished tied for the first to third spots with Serbian GM Miroljub Lazic after finishing with five points but Salvador bagged the title because of a better tie-break point.
The three finished tied for the top spot following their victories in the last round with Salvador downing IM Milan Mrdja of Croatia, Vuelban defeating FM Marco Corvi of Italy and Lazic subduing IM Paolo Vezzosi also of Italy.
Over at the the US Chess championship in Missouri, IM Enrico Sevillano of the Philippines finished tied for the 16th to 19th spots with GM Julio Becerra and IMs Michael Brooks and Tyler Hughes with their identical 4.0 points.
Sevillano was on his way to posting a better finish but defeat in the last two rounds to IM Ray Robson and GM Larry Christiansen sent him down the standings.
But Sevillano, now based in Tehachapi, California, pocketed $2,375 (over P100,000).Champion GM Hikaru Nakamura took home the top prize worth $40,000 with his 7.0 points.
– Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV
Philippines is becoming a chess powerhouse.