Philippines, 02 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Pinoy chessers off to hot start in Penang Open


PhilBoxing.com


Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia---International Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad and FIDE Master Christopher Castellano of the Philippines got off to blazing start by winning their second round matches in the 4th Penang Chess Open Chess Championship 2024 at the St. Xavier's Institution in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia on Monday, April 8.

Bagamasbad defeated Yu Hang Koay of Malaysia while Castellano subdued compatriot National Master Leonardo Alidani.

“The first two rounds are one of the toughest rounds in any tournament. It usually sets the tone of how you’re going to perform,” said the 8th-seeded Bagamasbad, the reigning back-to-back Asian Seniors 65 over category champion.

“We hope to perform well in this event and gain some Elo rating points,” added the 4th-seeded Castellano.

The Quezon City resident Bagamasbad also beat No.34 Divyadarrshini Loganathan of Malaysia in Round 1 while the Cainta, Rizal bet Castellano toppled No. 30 Ee Hern Leong of Malaysia.

The usual suspects also made their presence felt early.
Top seed FIDE Master Yu Tian Poh of Malaysia, No.7 Xin Hao Looi of Malaysia, No.10 AIM Chee Sian Sebastien Chua of Malaysia, No. 16 Maximiliano Marrhuimawan of Indonesia and No.25 Ting Han Choo of Malaysia.

Poh crushed No.11 Jason Rojo of the Philippines, Looi waylaid No.23 Zong Ze Cheah of Malaysia, Chua dismantled No.24 Shu Heng Ng of Malaysia, Marrhuimawan upset No.2 IM Angelo Young of the Philippines and Choo beat No.9 Nathanael Dieudonne B Simanihuruk of Indonesia.

No. 5 NM Gerald Ferriol and No.12 NM Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., both from the Philippines also opened with impressive results.

Ferriol defeated No. 31 Vishant Naidu Patini of Malaysia in Round 1 then halved the point with No. 17 Wei Yang Lim of Malaysia.
Bernardino, on the other hand, drew with No. 38 Jia Yhu Lim of Malaysia and No. 26 Shanjay Ram Pragaesh of Malaysia.

The tournament is organized by Atty. See Swee Sie and Madam InHooi Teh of Penang Chess Association and is supported by Malaysian Chess Federation and St. Xavier's Institution.
Tournament director is IA Poay Sim Lim while Chief Arbiter is IA Jin Hai Jonathan Chuah.- Marlon Bernardino-


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 02 Feb 2026
  • International Master Eric Labog Jr. rules FIDE rapid chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 02 Feb 2026
  • 76ers star Paul George has been suspended for 25 NBA games by doping
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
    , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
    , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Trazo beats Jabagat in Talisay
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Into fights Sanchez on Feb. 9 at Villa Kristen
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson: Styles Make Fights Fitting Cliche
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Bryan Flores Wins Majority Decision Over Starling Castillo in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • KinetixSports Legacy Run on March 1
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • THE RING 6: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Legendary Soccer Player Sergio Ramos to make professional boxing debut
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Weigh-In Results: Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Teofimo vs Shakur Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Welterweight Showdown Canceled
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • NEWCASTLE WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS MURTAZALIEV AND KELLY CLASH FOR WORLD TITLE
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Boxers Make Weight for Brico Santig’s Exciting 21-Bout Promotion in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • “It’s time for TSABZ to shine” Get to know Tanaka Saburi as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • ATLANTIC CITY BOXING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2026
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: WCM Nika Juris Nicolas is Ready to Fight
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Press Conference Notes: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas Ready for Saturday's Hometown Unification Battle against Abass Baraou
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • ‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.