FILIPINO Romie Lord Guerra pocketed the top honors in the New Zealand Major Open Chess Championship dubbed as 126th New Zealand Chess Congress that was held January 14 to 24, 2019 at the Waipuna Hotel and Conference Center in Auckland, New Zealand.
The 30-year-old Guerra who hails from Marikina Heights, Marikina City, collected 7.5 points on seven wins, one draw and a loss to win the nine-round tournament.
"I?m still speechless and I still couldn?t believe it. What a way to close 2018?s door and what a great start for me this 2019!" said Guerra, a Business Management graduate student from Adamson University under the watchful eye of coach Christopher Rodriguez.
With the victory, Guerra's performance boosted the nation's morale, said Auckland, New Zealand based Jun Isaac. ?Once again our flag has been raised in this foreign land after knowing that our Filipino kababayan Romie Lord Guerra won the New Zealand Major Open Chess Championship,? he said.
Guerra scored victories over Aaron Ziwen Wang of New Zealand in the first round, Karl Holdo of New Zealand in the second round, Candidate Master Timothy Rains of New Zealand in the third round, David Lovejoy of Australia in the fourth round, Michael D. Sole of New Zealand in the seventh round, Candidate Master Don Eade of New Zealand in the eight round and Oliver Dai of New Zealand in the ninth and final round.
He split the point with Fide Master Robert E. Gibbons of New Zealand in the fifth round but yielded to Candidate Master Stanley Yee of New Zealand in the sixth round.
Guerra who is also member of the Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA), won the top 1900 below in the New Zealand Rapid (6.5 pts./9) and placed second in the New Zealand Lightning (7.5 pts./9).
Guerra pocketed 700nzd for winning the NZ Major Open, received 50nzd for topping the 1900 below in the NZ Rapid and went home 200nzd for runner-up place in the NZ Lightning.
Grandmaster Timur Gareyev of the United States, both won the NZ Rapid (8.5 pts./9) and NZ Lightning (9/9).-Marlon Bernardino-
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