Kidapawan's Olay wins Singapore chessfest; Bernardino placed second overall

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SINGAPORE---International Master (IM) elect Edgar Reggie Olay of Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, on Sunday, July 8, 2018, defeated Aldrin Wong to win the July edition of the Asean Chess Academy (ACA) Rapid Open Chess Championships being held here at the Bukit Timah Shopping Centre.

Olay, a chess instructor and chess teacher here, employed the white pieces to beat Wong after 45 moves of King's Indian defense, Samisch variation in the twenty (20) minutes time control format enroute the title in the one-day Rapid Open event backed up by Kasparov Chess Academy and organized by Fide Master (FM) Ignatius Leong.

He received 300 Singapore dollar champions' purse for his effort. Olay got undefeated in six games of play with a total output of 5 points on four wins and two draws.

Filipino and United States Chess Federation (USCF) master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., whose trip was supported by Mandaluyong City ABC president and Barangay Malamig chairman Marlon Manalo, placed second overall with 4.5 points.

Bernardino currently works as sports consultant, chess teacher and sportswriter back home. Born and raised in Quezon City, Bernardino is best to remembered helping the Barangay Malamig, Rizal Technological University (RTU) Mandaluyong woodpushers to the national championships title during the national inter-collegiate in the mid 90's.

Defending champion Arena Grandmaster (AGM) and Fide Master (FM) elect Roberto Suelo Jr., former top player of Barangay Malamig, Rizal Technological University (RTU) Mandaluyong chess team and Roy Marpaung of Indonesia, both tallied 4 points each, occupied third and fourth places, respectively.

Rounding up the top-10 circle were Jimson Bitoon of Philippines, Richard Lean and Tan Yian Hau of Singapore, another RTU bet Ronnie Tamares of Philippines, Aldrin Wong and Leonidas Chua of Singapore.

Singapore based Woman International Master (WIM) Jan Jodilyn Fronda is the chief arbiter assisted by Franz Grafil. Meanwhile, WIM Fronda said she is willing to represent the country in the upcoming 43rd Chess Olympiad which will be held from September 23 to October 7, 2018 in Batumi, Georgia.(Marlon Bernardino)