Nazario, Garcia rule WR Bughouse Open

MANILA, Philippines — Marc Christian Nazario has gained a reputation locally as one of the best, if not the best, bughouse chess players in the country today.

On a stormy Saturday night, the 32-year-old former national junior champion showed why as he and Olympiad veteran Jem Garcia ruled the WR Bughouse Open at the MICE Center in Quezon City.

Nazario and Garcia, an International Master, outlasted St. Benilde Blazers’ John Laurence Donguines and Daniel Baylosis by winning the last two matches in their best-of-three title showdown and claimed the top prize worth P100,000.

Nazario, along with a different partner, was one of the only two Philippine pairs that made the quarterfinals in the stronger inaugural WR Bughouse Championship in Taguig last June that further underscored his reputation in the sport also known as “transfer chess.”

“From losing early, barely making Top 8, then taking down the teams that beat us before, it was a proud moment for me,” said the National Master who is from Quezon City.

Metaboys’ Samson Lim III and Jerich Cajeras, who finished first after the qualification round, blanked DCSK’s Noel dela Cruz and Timothy John So Kua in two outings to finish third place in this one-day meet backed by WR Chess’ Wadim Rosenstein, Philippine Sports Commission, Quezon City and the NCFP.