ANTON DEL MUNDO IS CJAP PLAYER OF THE MONTH

FILIPINO CHESS WHIZ DEL MUNDO IS CJAP PLAYER OF THE MONTH


EVEN if he’s far away from home, Anton Paolo del Mundo is making the country proud in the international chess scene.

Last month, Del Mundo achieved a major feat by winning both the World Open Under 24 category in Philadelphia and the US Open in New Jersey. Both wins enabled the US-based Del Mundo to earn the coveted honor as "Player of the Month" from the Chess Journalists Association of the Philippines (CJAP).

In New Jersey, Del Mundo tied for first place with well-known GMs Alex Shabalov, Boris Gulko, Sergey Kudrin and Michael Rhode and two other IMs with 7.5 points each. Another Filipino, IM Enrico Sevillano, finished with 6.5 points.

A distant second to Del Mundo was Far Eastern University assistant coach Alex Milagrosa, who tied for first place with IM Richard Bitoon in the NCFP qualifying tournament held at the Marketplace Shopping Center in Mandaluyong City.

Past CJAP winners were GM Nelson Mariano (January), IM Wesley So (March and May), FM Julio Catalio Sadorra (April) and Haridas Pascua (June).

No player was chosen last February.

CJAP is the only association of Filipino chess journalists recognized by both the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

The CJAP is headed by Ed Andaya of People's Tonight, president; Roy Luarca of Inquirer and Dante Navarro of Philippine Star, vice-presidents; Arman Armero of Standard Today, secretary; Joey Vilar of Philippine Star, treasurer; Dani Simon of Police Files, auditor; Noli Cruz of Standard and Cristine Moncada of Malaya, PROs; and Orlando Primo of Dyaryong Orig and Marlon Bernardino of Bandera, business managers. Advisers are Gus Villanueva of the Journal Group and Manny Benitez of Weekender.

(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)