Final Standings: (Seven Round Swiss System)
6.0 points---FM Nelson Villanueva (Philippines)
5.5 points---Syamaizar Lup (Malaysia)
5.0 points---Jamaluddin Ahmad Jamal Husni (Malaysia), Jamil Mohd Nor Hafiz (Malaysia), Atan Abd Wahab Saiful Azlan (Malaysia), Rustam Affendi Ahmad Kamal (Malaysia)
FILIPINO FIDE Master (FM) Nelson Villanueva continued his winning streak in Malaysia as he emerged the overall champion in the KLK Batu Gajah (Open) 2018 International Chess Championship.
The Carlota City, Negros Occidental native Villanueva toppled Ahmad Mudzaffar Ramli of Malaysia in the seventh and final round of the tournament held on Sunday (March 4, 2018) in Batu Gajah, Perak, Malaysia.
Using the advantageous white pieces, Villanueva prevailed after 25 moves of Catalan Opening in the twenty five (25) minutes time control format enroute the title.
He received RM (Malaysian Ringgit) 500 champions' purse plus trophy for his effort.
Villanueva got undefeated in seven games of play with five wins and two draws.
?We (NCFP/PECA) congratulate FM (Nelson) Villanueva for giving the Philippines another championships' trophy in Malaysian chess circuit." said Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA) founding president Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe, Treasurer of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by Chairman/President Rep. Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr.
The former Rizal Technological University (RTU) Mandaluyong City standout Villanueva scored victories over Khairul Akmal Azhar of Malaysia in the first round, Azmi Syed Firdaus Asyraaf Syed Hashim of Malaysia in the second round and Ahmad Jamal Husni Jamaluddin of Malaysia in the third round.
He split the point with Syamaizar Lup of Malaysia in the fourth round then trounced Nor Hafiz Jamil Mohd of Malaysia in the fifth round and halved the point with Wahab Saiful Azlan Atan Abd of Malaysia in the sixth round before crushing Ramli in the final canto.
"God is so gracious for the third time," said Villanueva, a frequent visitor of the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) in Singapore.
Villanueva has three chess titles which he won from Feb 24 to March 4.
He won the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly International Chess Competition 2018 in Sarawak, Malaysia last March 3, 2018, Saturday. Villanueva went home top prize RM (Malaysian Ringgit) 2,000 for winning the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly International Chess Competition 2018.
He also topped the rapid event of the Mesamall Chinese New Year Open chess tournament last February 24, 2018 held in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia to claim the top prize RM (Malaysian Ringgit) 500.-Marlon Bernardino and Caren D. Salinillas.-
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