NAVA SECOND IN ASEAN MASTERS CHESS

ASEAN CHESS MASTERS

Final Standings:

6.5 points---GM Dao Thien Hai (Vietnam)
6.0 points---FM Roderick Nava (Philippines)
6.0 points---Nguyen Van Huy (Vietnam)
5.0 points---David Elorta (Philippines)
5.0 points---Nguyen Thien Viet (Vietnam)
5.0 points---FM Hoang Canh Huan (Vietnam)
4.5 points---GM Zaw Win Lay (Myanmar)
3.5 points—IM Wynn Zaw Htun (Myanmar)
2.0 points---Nguyen Hoang Nam (Vietnam)
1.5 points---FM Bao Quang (Vietnam)

DANANG, VIETNAM---A day after getting his first International Master norm, Filipino Roderick Nava defeated fellow Fide Master Hoang Canh Huan of Vietnam in the ninth and final round to settle for second to third place in the just concluded Asean Masters Chess Circuit here at the Danang Hotel on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old pride of Carmona, Cavite prevailed with the white pieces after 44 moves of Modern Defense.

"Sobrang blessing na po ang naganap dito sa akin sa Asean Masters Chess Circuit, bukod sa nakuha ko ang aking 1st IM norm kahit papano ay nag tie for 2nd at 3rd place ako at may mauuwing konting pera sa pamilya ko," said Nava, who finished 6.0 points, on account of four wins, four draws and a loss to eventual champion GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam.

" Muli, nagpapasalamat po ako sa walang humpay na suporta sa aking local at international tournament kina NCFP president Cong (Butch) Pichay at Carmona, Cavite mayor (Roy) Loyola," added Nava, who thank NCFP president Cong (Butch) Pichay and Carmona, Cavite mayor (Roy) Loyola for their undying support.

GM Dao, the third seed player here with 2530 in this 10-man players field event toppled 2nd seed IM Wynn Zaw Htun (2542) after 32 moves of an Old Indian Defense.

Actually, Nguyen Van Huy, the reigning Vietnam National Champion who also got his IM norm here matched the score of Nava with 6.0 points after a draw with top seed GM Zaw Win Lay (2574) of Myanmar in the last round in just 9 moves of a Sicilian Defense.

GM Dao pocketed the top purse US$1,250 while Nava and Van Huy each received US$625 after split the combined prize of US$ 1,250 for the 2nd and 3rd placers.

Another Filipino entry David Elorta, who is schedule to celebrate his 26th birthday on June 20 failed to earn his 2nd IM norm after falling short by half a point with his total of 5.0 points.

Elorta, who got his 1st IM norm in the 2007 Pichay Cup International Open needed to win his last round match to Candidate Master Nguyen Hoang Nam of Vietnam but forced a marathon 85 moves draw in their London System Opening.

"Hindi po talaga ukol sa akin na makuha ang 2nd IM norm ko dito sa Danang IM Tournament. Pero marami akong natutunan dito at alam kong makukuha ko din po 'yan in the future," said The San Andres, Bukid Manila resident Elorta, a habitué of Guadalupe Chess Club headed by Roberto Bayno.

Nava and Elorta, both aiming to become the country's newest IM, will play in the semi-final round for the qualifying round of RP team bound for World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany late this year.

In the Asean Age-Group Chess Championships, Jan Emmanuel Garcia of Manila blanked Dag Hoang Son of Vietnam, 3-0, in the finals to clinch country's only gold medal in the individual Blitz event.

Garcia, the incoming second year high school student of Ateneo de Manila University also led the RP youth team to bag another gold medal in the Team Blitz event along with the support of Mark Prince Aquino of San Nicolas, Pangasinan and Jan Nigel Galan of Valenzuela City. At the conclusion of the Blitz event on Tuesday, the Philippine Youth Team hauled 2-8-8, gold-silver and bronze medals. National Master Edmundo Legaspi of Olongapo City failed to complete a possible grand slam losing his final match to Yap Chow Tun of Brunei, thus settling for the bronze medal.

In the Senior division, Legaspi, a member of the NCFP board of director and also the RP delegation head took the gold medal in the Standard and Rapid individual play.

Over-all, the 40-players RP Age-Group team sent and backed by NCFP president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., finished with a total of 10 gold and settled for second place over-all. Vietnam, with the most number of entries with 203 players remained the over-all champion.

Former Olympian IM Idelfonso Datu is the RP head coach, assisted by NM Rudy Ibanez.

contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison