PENANG,  Malaysia -- The Philippines, bannered by  veteran  IM  Emmanuel  Senador and FM-elect Robert Suelo Jr., bagged  the overall title in the  Wah Seong Penang Chess  League 2018  Championship at the Red Rock Hotel  here  recently

Senador proved  unstoppable at the  top  board as  he defeated  Roy Marpaung to lead Team Philippines to a  smashing  3.5-0.5 win over Miracle Team Indonesia  in the eighth and final round.

The  Filipinos  finished with 14 match points  on seven wins and only one loss for  25.5 board points in eight outings whch applied the 15 minutes plus 10 seconds increment time control format.

Suelo split the  point with  IM Anjas Novita  on board two.

Aside from Senador and  Suelo, the other members of  Team  Philippines are  Ian Cris Udani and FM  Nelson Villanueva.

Udani outclassed  IM Dede Lioe on  the third  board, while Villanueva toppled Ricky Rismanto on  the courth board.

The triumph  was a big boost to the morale of the  Filipinos during the holiday season.

“Magandang  panalo  ito para sa atin, lalo ng-lalo na ngayong magpa-Pasko,” said   former Polytechnic University of the Philippines top chess player Roberto Racasa.

Overall,  Team Philippines posted   victories over Kelab Catur Hijau Kuning -Girls (4-0) in the first round; Chessmates State, Lady, U18G (4-0) in the second round;   OXA 1Penang (3.5-0.5) in the third round; China 1 (3.5-0.5) in the  fourth round;  Chinese Children  U12-Boys (4-0) in the fifth round; Caste  and  Friends (3-1) in the  seventh and  penultimate round before crushing Miracle Team  Indonesia in the final  round.         

The Filipinos’  only setback came  at the hands of  East Java, 1-3,in the sixth round.

Suelo battled to a  draw  with Andika Pitra and  Villanueva split the point with Anam Khairul.         In the top board,  Senador, lost to  Kurniawan Muhamad Agus.        Udani  yielded to   Hakim Nuh on board three.    Meanwhile, the Golden Mind Kiddies chess tournament will come off the wraps on open Jan. 6, 2019 at the 2/F, Tagumpay Canteen, P. Torres Street infront of Lipa City Public Market Parking Bldg., in Lipa City, Batangas.

Golden Mind chess club president Alexandro “Allan” Osena said that the one-day event is open to all kiddies chess players.

The kiddies division champion will pocket P4,000 plus trophy while the second to fifth placers will take home P2,000 plus medal, P1,000 plus medal, P700 plus medal and P500 plus medal, respectively.

The top female will also get 500 plus medal.

The top Under 6 years old, Under 8 years old and Under 10years old will each receive P1,000 plus medal.

Tournament registration fee is P300 for members and P400 for non-members.

For inquierie, call or text  Osena at 0916-792-2536 and 0939-217-0002.