Nonthaburi, Thailand: FILIPINO and United States chess master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr. clinched the Gainsfield Pinoy Chess Blitz Championship 2013 by winning the Double Round Robin Format which ended on Saturday. 

The former Arlington, Virginia Open, USA chess champion Bernardino, a sportswriter and radio commentator  formalized his claim to the title at the  Gainsfield Chess and Language Center headquarters here.

Bernardino finished with a total of 7.5 points, the same output of chess expert Henry Calacday. However, Bernardino won the title via winner over the other tie break points against Calacday.

Bernardino edged Calacday, 1.5-0.5, in the last round. The Quezon City native Bernardino, ex-mainstay of Rizal Technological University (RTU) Mandaluyong City earlier beat  Julie Ann Mendez (1.5-0.5), Ryan Calacday (2-0), National Master (NM) Leonardo Alidani (1.5-0.5) and drew with Fide Master (FM) Deniel Causo (1-1).

Last Friday (July 5, 2013), Causo (11.5/12) captured the Bangkok Chess Club Open Blitz Tournament held at the Queen Victoria Pab and Restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand.  He was followed by Jimson Bitoon (11 pts.),  Bernardino (10 pts.), NM Ric Portugalera (9 pts.) and Henry Calacday (7 pts.)  respectively.