Mariano earns GM norm in Dubai Open

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates–International Master Nelson Mariano II beat GM Shukrat Safin of Uzbekistan Tuesday to tally 5.5 points and clinch the coveted Grandmaster norm in the final round of the $40,000 Dubai Open Chess Championship.

On the black side of a King’s Indian Fianchetto, Mariano put pressure on the center pawn and won the exchange of Rook for Bishop on the 22nd move.

"Pumasok siya sa paborito kong linya," Mariano said. Safin tried to close the position but Mariano returned the exchange on the 39th move to reach a won endgame of same colored Bishops and force resignation on the 42nd move.

The four RP entries in this biggest and strongest Asian open event is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and private donors, including National Chess Federation of the Philippines chairman Andres Gatmaitan, NCFP executive committee member Boojie Lim and FIDE Ratings administrator Casto Abundo.

Armyman Mariano went through a wringer in the 9-round Swiss system tournament, but emerged with a great performance by beating three GMs and drawing with three other GMs, including eventual tournament winner Shakriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan, the former World Junior Champion.

"My most difficult game was against Mamedyarov," Mariano said, "specially since I missed a win against him."

Mariano scored a performance rating of 2613 to achieve the GM result.

This was confirmed by Abundo, the tournament’s chief arbiter and NCFP executive director.

Abundo also arranged the participation of GM Bong Villamayor and IM Barlo Nadera.

The tournament also produced the world’s youngest grandmaster, 13-year-old Magnus Carlsen of Norway, who earned his third and final norm in Dubai.

Mariano already has one GM norm from the 1995 Singapore Pools tournament and needs only one more GM norm to get the Grandmaster title.

"I have arranged an invitation for Mariano to the strong Abu Dhabi Open this August," Abundo said.

Mariano, 29, learned chess at the age of four from his father Nelson "Sonny" Mariano Sr. and was coached by his uncle Henry in his formative years.

"For the last four years, si Bong Villamayor ang nag-coach sa akin," Mariano in thanking his fellow national teammate in the 2002 World Chess Olympiad in Bled, Slovenia.

"Nakatulong din ang mga sermon lately ni Pocamps (Florencio Campomanes)," Mariano added.

Mariano had to take many chess books to Dubai to prepare because he owns no laptop, let alone a home computer.

A former champion of the University of the East, Mariano was thrice Most Valuable Player at the Glutaphos Inter-Collegiate championship. He earned his National Master title at 16 in 1990.

He was Philippine junior champion and also became the Shell Active Chess titlist in 1993.

In 1994, he was both Philippine junior champion and Asian junior champion to earn his International Master title.