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TWO Filipino woodpushers made the country proud by winning first and second in the 11th Open International de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines International Open Chess Championship in France.
Grandmaster Joseph Sanchez, the former coach of child prodigy GM Mark Paragua who now lives in France, and IM Roland Salvador, who is based in Milan, both finished with 7.5 points after nine rounds.
The Cebuano Sanchez was actually leading until a last round draw against GM Namig Guliyev from Azerbaijan. Salvador beat local hero Legrand Stephane in the final round to finish with the same score with his fellow Pinoy.
Sanchez, a protegee of sportsman/NM Matias "Bombi" Aznar, was declared first because of his big performance of 2,573 compared to Salvador's 2,544. /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino
