Garcia rules Lomibao Open chess

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino International Master Jem Garcia ruled the Woman FIDE Master Sherie Joy Lomibao Open Rapid Chess Tournament at the Pavilion of the Greenfield District in Mandaluyong over the weekend.

The 29-year-old Olympiad veteran stunned Grandmaster Daniel Quizon in the ninth and final round to finish with an impressive score of 8.5 points and claim the top purse worth P20,000.

GM Joey Antonio took second place after beating FIDE Master David Elorta in the last round, then edging IM Michael Concio Jr. in the tiebreak after they ended up with 8.0 points each.

It was another solid showing for Garcia, the current Ateneo chess head coach who was the best Filipino performer in the Open section of Asian Individual Chess Championships in UAE early this month.