Salimbagat, Castro shine in US chess

by Marlon Bernardino

New York---Fide Master Rico Salimbagat, who hails from Tanauan, Batangas who is now based in Queens, New York, emerged champion in the recently-concluded 13th Annual Manhattan Open Chess Tournament Under 2300 section last July 25 to 27, 2014 here at at the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel.

Salimbagat, who works as a maintenance engineer at the Warwick International Hotel here in New York finished with undefeated five wins in the 5-round Swiss System format competition to pocket the champion's prize of 1,400 USD.

Salimbagat, with an USCF rating 2280, bested Jackson Hueckel, Edgar Cimafranca, Isaac Barayev, James Fu and Fide Master Jon Jacobs, respectively.

Former Olympian International Master Renato Naranja from New Jersey finished with three points, a good for a tie for 13th to 31st place.

Meanwhile, World Chess Federation (FIDE) Developmental Instructor Dari Castro wound up a tie for first place with Brett H Schneider in the Under 1400 section. The duo tallied perfect five points apiece and each received 550 USD for their effort.

Castro who is currently based here in New Jersey from Tondo, Manila and liason officer of the Eugene Torre Chess Foundation defeated Daniel Fridlyand, James E Thierer, Rio Arengo, Max and Simon Gorbaty, in order.

Another Filipino entry Jose dela Cruz of Queens, New York finished 3.5 points in the Under 1700 section. A native of Burauen, Leyte and founder of the newly-formed Philippine Institute for Chess Excellence (PICE), dela cruz received 125 USD for finishing second place in the Under 1550 category.

In the Open section, GM Alexander Stripunsky scored 4.5 points in five outings to went home the first prize of 1,700 USD.

GM Sergei Azarov and GM Sergey Kudrin shared 2nd to 3rd place with four points each for 600 USD.

GM Mark Paragua led the group of 3.5 pointers that includes GM Mikheil Kekelidze, IM Aleksandr Ostrovskiy, GM Michael A Rohde, IM Jay Richard Bonin

and Jason Shi.

GM Oliver Barbosa, meantime finished overall 10th place with three points. Other 3-pointers are IM Lev Milman, FM Arthur Shen, Matan Prilleltensky

and Janak Awatramani.

United States Chess Federation (USCF) master Jose "Jojo" Aquino Jr., head coach of National University (NU) from Antipolo City finished overall 17th place with 2.5 points.