FEU WOODPUSHERS DOMINATES WORLD INTER-VARSITY CHESS

VICTORIUS Philippine team represented by Far Eastern University poses with NCFP president Prospero Pichay Jr.

Left to right: IM Jayson Gonzales, James Bulicatin, Luffe Magdalaga, John Ranel Morazo, Fide Master Roderick Nava, NCFP president Prospero Pichay Jr., Cherrylyn Guiang, Jenny Rose Palomo, Lovelyn Medina, Ronna Reigner Senora and NM Alex Milagrosa


Final Standings: (24 team competitions, nine round Swiss System)

Champion: Far Eastern University, Team A (Philippines) 27.5 points

Runner-up: National University of Singapore (Singapore) 25.5 points (212 tie break points)

Third place: Far Eastern University, Team B (Philippines) 25.5 points (200 tie break points)

Fourth place: University of Colombo, Team A (Sri Lanka) 24.0 points

Fifth place: University of Malaya, Team A (Malaysia) 23.0 points

Sixth place: PTVA (India) 22.5 points

Seventh place: Nanyang Technological University, Team A (Singapore) 22.0 points

Eight place: Azad Islamic University (Iran) 21.5 points

Ninth place: University of Malaya, Team B (Malaysia) 20.0 points

Tenth place: University Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Team A (Malaysia) 20.0 points

Eleventh place: University Islam Antarabangsa, Team A (Malaysia) 20.0 points…

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Men's Individual Champion: FM Roderick Nava (Far Eastern University, Team A) 7.5 points

Women's Individual Champion: Jenny Rose Palomo ((Far Eastern University, Team A) 7.5 points

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FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY (TEAM A) Philippines chess team dominates the just concluded 12th Rakan Muda GACC (Grand Asean Chess Challenge) World Inter-Varsity Chess Championships 2007 held recently at the Auditorium Perdana Siswa, University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Tamarraw woodpushers under the watchful eyes of head coach GM candidate Jayson Gonzales and assistant coach NM Alex Milagrosa which are composed of Fide Master Roderick Nava, Luffe Magdalaga, John Ranel Morazo and Jenny Rose Palomo notch a total 27.5 combined points to snatch the championships trophy, the gold medal plus the top purse 2,000 Ringgit (Malaysian dollar) in this annual tournament organized under the auspices of the Malaysian Chess Federation with support from the Youth and Sports Ministry.

"We (FEU-RP Chess team) would like to thank Mr. Mark Oliver Molina (FEU, Athletic Director) and Congressman Butch Pichay Jr. (NCFP president) for giving us unwavering support," said Gonzales, who needed one GM norm to complete his GM status.

"Our hard work has absolutely paid off," added Gonzales, member of the RP Chess team who bagged the gold medal in the 2003 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games and 2006 Turin World Chess Olympiad.

According to Gonzales, it was a best year for the Manila based school who also won the 2007 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) in Manila and 2007 University Games (UniGames) in Bacolod City, both in the men's senior competition.

"We are very happy because we won three major tournaments, here and abroad," he added.

National University of Singapore had a better 212 tie break points over Far Eastern University, Team B, Philippines which tallied 200 tie break points to win the silver medal plus the runner-up prize of 1,500 Ringgit (Malaysian dollar). NUS and FEU B tallying identical 25.5 points.

FEU-B headed by Davao's James Bulicatin, Cherrylyn Guiang, Lovelyn Medina and Ronna Reigner Senora didn't go empty hand in this 24 participated team after receiving third prize of 1,000 Ringgit (Malaysian Dollar) plus the bronze medal.

Meanwhile, Nava and Palomo finished 7.5 points to emerged-over-all champion in the men's and women's individual division, respectively. Each of them received 1,000 Ringgit (Malaysian Dollar).

Nava surpass the third place joint finish of Arnulfo Gavillan (UP) and NM Marlon Bernardino Jr. (RTU) in the 2000 edition men's individual class while FEU Team A also surpass the third place finish of Rizal Technological University-Mandaluyong City in the 1999 edition in the team competitions.

According to the tournament organizer, each university can send in a maximum of two teams, each comprising a minimum of four participants, including one female where all points will be combined to determine the team winners. The maximum number of participants per team is six.

Report from MARLON BERNARDINO