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June proved to be a merry month for chesser Jayson Gonzales after the Quezon City-native finally snatched his long-cherished grandmaster (GM) crown.
This developed after Gonzales finished with nine points on six wins and six draws in the recent Philippines vs. Myanmar Dual Chess Championships, enough for his Elo rating of 2490 to jump to 2520. His current Elo rating breached the 2500 benchmark for a GM title, making Gonzales the country?s 9th GM.
Gonzales powered the country to 46.5 points against visiting Myanmar's 25.5 points over the weekend in the first RP-Myanmar duel at the Lake Garden Hotel in Tagaytay City.
However, Gonzales will have to wait until July 1, 2008 FIDE ratings list to formally claim his GM title.
In the April, 2008 FIDE rating list, Gonzales had 2468 points excluding the plus 22 points he got after topping the Subic Chess Open last month. Meaning his 2468 jumped to 2490.
Gonzales, a member of the Philippine Army Chess Team will now join the elite cast of the country?s GM group composed of Eugene Torre, Joey Antonio Jr., Bong Villamayor, Nelson Mariano, Mark Paragua, Darwin Laylo, Wesley So and the late Rosendo Balinas.
?Nagpapasalamat ako kay Congressman (Butch) Pichay dahil hindi siya tumigil sa pagsuporta sa akin mapa local at internasyunal para matupad ang pangarap kong makuha ang GM title,? Gonzales said.
His childhood friend and Majority Floor Leader of the Quezon City Council, Attorney Ariel Inton, also congratulated Gonzales for his feat.
?Napakagandang ehemplo si Jayson (Gonzales) sa lungsod Quezon lalung-lalu na sa mga kabataan,? Inton said.
