by Marlon Bernardino
Final Standings: (69 participants, 9-round Swiss system)
7.5 points---Li Bo (China)
7.0 points---IM Marcos Llaneza Vega (Spain), GM Wong Meng Kong (Singapore), NM Nelson Villanueva (Philippines)
6.5 points---NM Roel Abelgas (Philippines), NM Deniel Causo (Philippines)
6.0 points---Mohammad Agus Kurniawan (Indonesia), Zhang Xiaopeng (China), Aris T.L.S. (Indonesia)
5.5 points---FM Hamed Nouri (Philippines), Robin Lai (Hongkong), FM Yu Kaifeng (China), Koji Nagochi (Japan), Hendry Jamals (Indonesia), WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego (Philippines), Liao Yu Hao (China), Alberto Muniz Pardino (Hongkong), Robert Michael Yang (Hongkong), FM Luk Luen-Wah (Hongkong)
Manila---Li Bo of China stole the limelight by emerging as champion in the Hongkong International Open Chess Championships 2013 at the Convocation Room, Main Building room 218, The University of Hongkong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hongkong.
While Li had 7.5 points in the end, there was a three-way tie for the second spot with 7.0 points among top seed International Master Marcos Llaneza Vega of Spain (2nd place), Grandmaster Wong Meng Kong of Singapore (3rd place) and National Master Nelson Villanueva of the Philippines (4th place).
In the crucial ninth and final round Tuesday, there was a lot of tension in the top board games as about five players were in with a chance of clinching the coveted trophy.
Overnight leader IM Llaneza Vega, who had a cushion of a half point lead over the others, suffered a heart-breaking loses to GM Wong allowing Li to enroute the title with a emphatic win over countryman Zhang Xiaopeng.
Villanueva who hails from Bacolod City edged compatriot Fide Master Hamed Nouri to finished in a tie for second place in the 69 player's field which attracted players from Philippines, China, Spain, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Chinese-Taipei, Republic of South Africa, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, Macau, Nepal and Hongkong.
Last month, Villanueva landed a strong runner-up finish in the Sabah Grande Chess Open 2013 held in Sabah, Malaysia which topped by Filipino IM Oliver Dimakiling of Davao City.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Vice-President and Grassroots Development Head Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares is elated over the victories of the Filipino woodpushers who made it to the list of top 10.
"We congratulate our chess team for its impressive performance." said Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares himself is a chess champion from Western Visayas, having placed second in the 1976 Palarong Pambansa.
National Masters Roel Abelgas and Deniel Causo of the Philippines, meantime toppled their respective rivals in the final canto to end up 5th to 6th places with 6.5 points apiece.
Abelgas, a six-time Cavite champion and head coach of the De La Salle Health Sciences Institute in Dasmarinas, Cavite and San Beda Alabang, nipped Fide Master Tsang Hon Ki of Hongkong while Causo, a former Milo Checkmate chess instructor subdued Robin Lai of Hongkong.
Abelgas is the 2013 Malaysian Chess Festival Blitz Champion last August in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Nouri, on the other hand remains at 5.5 points, the same output of Woman Fide Master Marie Antoinette San Diego, winner over Lai Cyrus Ho-Yeung of Hongkong.
Nouri, a native of Escalante City, Negros Occidental and currently based in Taguig City is overall 10th place while San Diego is overall 15th place after the tie break points was applied.
World Youngest Fide Master and Seven Year Old Alekhine Nouri of the Philippines drew Mark Law of Hongkong to raised his total 4.0 points for overall 40th place finish.
The Filipino campaign in Hongkong are supported by Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares, Senator Koko Pimentel, National Chess Federation of the Philippines Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr., FEU Fern College of Quezon City, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
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