Mariano, now back in the hunt for a GM norm after briefly bowing out of the chess scene in the late 90s, vows to do his best in the tough 11-round championship where he hopes to score six points to obtain his second GM norm. The 1994 Asian Juniors champion earned his first GM result in 1995 in Singapore by topping a tough GM tournament after helping the Philippines win the Asian Team Championship crown.
Mariano’s trip to the India event is backed by the Philippine Army Finance Center (PAFCPIC), Andres Gatmaitan, Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia and Brig. Gen. Antonio Romero II.
Actually, the former chess sensation heralded his comeback by making it to the national team in last year’s Olympiad in Bled, Slovenia where he emerged the best Filipino player. He was undefeated in six games, scoring three victories against three draws in an impressive performance by a first-timer in the biennial event.
Now 29, the boyish-looking Mariano topped the Dubai rapid chess tournament last August and likewise steered the Philippine Army squad to the title romp in the recent AFP Olympics.