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FILIPINO International Master (IM) Julio Catalino Sadorra is the first ASEAN Grand Prix over-all topnotcher, pocketing $6,000 in the process, according to a report posted yesterday in the World Chess Federation (FIDE) website.
The overall ranking is based on a player’s performance in six tournaments such as the 3rd PGMA Cup 2007 and the 2nd Pichay Cup 2007 in Manila the Singapore Open 2007, the Philippine Open 2008 and the 1st Subic International Open 2008 in Subic-Olangapo City, and the 1st Dragon Capital –Vietnam Open in Vung Tau.
GM Wesley So (Elo 2577), currently the world’s youngest GM at 14 and fresh from bagging a bronze medal in the 1st Dragon Capital-Vietnam Open, settled second for place behind Sadorra. So won $5,000.
IMs Rolando Nolte and Richard Bitoon of Cebu, complete the Filipino domination of the rankings by taking the third and fourth places, respectively getting $4,000 and $3,000 each.
Vietnam GMs Dao Tien Hai and Nguyen Auh Dung ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, winning $2,000 and $1,000.
“Ito ang nagpapatunay aa mabilis na paglago ng chess sa ating bansa,” (This is proof of the country’s massive development in the field of chess), said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. “Talagang umaangat na tayo sa kalapit nating bansa. I hope in the future muli nating madomina ang Asya gaya ng dati,” (We are now way ahead of our neighbors. I hope we can dominate the whole of Asia like before), Pichay added.
Intchess Asia, as promised by ASEAN Chess Confederation President Ignatius Leong, sponsored the overall prize fund of the 1st ASEAN Grand Prix in the absence of the promised title sponsor.
Drafted and agreed by the National Chess Federations of the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore on September 23, 2007 in Cebu, Philippines during the 6th Asian Individual Championships and World Cup qualifier, the objective of the ASEAN Grand Prix is to help ASEAN grandmasters earn a living from the game while giving norm and title opportunities for talented players in the region.
