
Senador-led Pinoys capture Penang crown

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.