MANILA---With eight rounds to go, Filipino International Master (IM) Rolando Nolte will gun for his second grandmaster norm/results when the fourth round of the AQ Prime ASEAN Chess Championship gets going on Monday at the Great Eastern Hotel (formerly Aberdeen Court), Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.
Nolte will be employing the white pieces against countryman Grandmaster John Paul Gomez in Monday's fourth round.
Nolte defeated Candidate Master Dau Khuong Duy of Vietnam on Sunday to grab the solo lead after three rounds of the tournament.
Nolte prevailed after 35 moves of the Sicilian Defense using the black pieces to raise his total to 2.5 points.
He earlier defeated International Master Mohamad Ervan of Indonesia in Round 1 and, drew with Fide Master Prin Laohawirapap of Thailand in Round 2.
The tournament follows a single-round robin format and a World Chess Federation (FIDE)-sanctioned event with the champion of this event will have a chance to acquire an IM Title and GM Norm according to International Master Roderick Nava of Kamatyas Chess Club.
Nolte got his first GM norm in the 2008 Kolkata Open in Kolkata, India. The former University of Manila standout already reach the 2500 mark.
Nolte is also set to compete in the O2C Doeberl Cup to be held on April 6-10 in Canberra, Australia.
Nolte’s campaign to get the coveted GM title will be supported by former NCFP board of director lawyer Raymond N. Linsangan.
“I hope I can get the coveted GM title. My tournament schedule is set,” he said.
Nolte carried the fight for the Filipinos and placed third overall behind two foreign players in the MPCL's Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Festival in General Santos City last December 17, seeks his second GM norm here (AQ Prime ASEAN Chess Championship) in the event organized by Kamatyas Chess Club with support from the AQ Prime headed by it's top honcho Atty. Aldwin Alegre.
Nolte looks to join the growing list of Filipino grandmasters including Eugene Torre, the late Rosendo Balinas Jr., Rogelio Antonio Jr., Bong Villamayor, Nelson Mariano, Mark Paragua, Wesley So, Darwin Laylo, Jayson Gonzales, John Paul Gomez, Joseph Sanchez, Roland Salvador, Rogelio Barcenilla, Julio Catalino Sadorra, Oliver Barbosa, Richard Bitoon and Enrico Sevillano.
The Cebuano native Sevillano who is currently based in Tehachapi, California is the last Filipino tp receive the FIDE title of Grandmaster (GM) in September 2012.-Marlon Bernardino-
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