Pinay chesser wins bronze in Asian chess in Malaysia

MANILA, Philippines - Woman Fide Master (WFM) Rulp Ylem Jose bagged a bronze medal in the 2010 Grand Asian Chess Championship (GACC) at the University of Malaya (UM) Second College in Kuala Lumpur Tuesday.

Jose, a member of the reigning UAAP champion Far Eastern U chess team under Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, drew with WFM Jeslin Tay of Singapore in the ninth and final round to finish third with seven points.

The gold medal went to WGM Vera Nolsina (8pts) of Russia while the silver was won by WIM Ekaterina Kharashuta (7.5 points), also of Russia.

Four FEU players – WFM Jedara Docena, Lovelyn Medina, Jenny Rose Palomo and Rona Reigner Senora – made it to the top 10 in this annual event which attracted 43 players from six nations including Russia, Singapore, Iran, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Philippines.

The event, open to undergraduates from all over the globe, was held in cooperation with the Rakan Muda under the auspices of Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF).

National Chess Federation of the Philippines president-chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay lauded the Filipino chessers for the honor and glory they brought to the country.

“The success of the Filipino chess players in the international competition would somehow inspire Filipino youths to venture into this sport,” said Pichay, also head of the Local Waterworks and Utilities Authority.

In the men’s competitions, which drew 93 participants, IM Darban Morteza (8 points) took the gold and Nasri Amin (7.5) of Iran the silver, while GM Pavel Maletin of Russia won the bronze medal after a superior tiebreak over fellow seven-pointer and countryman FM Yvan Dzhumagaliev.

John Ranel Morazo was fifth overall while FEU teammate Sheider Nebato was eighth. Both had 6.5 points.

Other participants were No. 10 Christian Arroyo (6 points), No. 11 Antonio Chavez (6), No. 14 Kevin Mirano (6) and No. 15 Lennon Heart Salgados (6) which attracted 93 competitors.

The FEU chess team’s Malaysian stint was supported by FEU president Anton Montinola, FEU athletic director Mark Molina and Pichay.