WESLEY SO SWEEPS BLITZ CHESS, POCKETS GOLD IN SEA GAMES; MARK PARAGUA SETTLES FOR BRONZE

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Manila, Philippines -- Filipino GM Wesley So swept his all matches to pocket the country's lone gold medal at the conclusion of the 26th Southeast Asian Games at the Swarna Dwipa Hotel in Palembang, Indonesia Monday.

The 18-years-old Bacoor, Cavite whiz kid finished undefeated with nine points in the 10-man field single round robin of the Blitz chess competition.

GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong of Vietnam took the silver medal with 7.5 points while another Filipino entry GM Mark Paragua settled for bronze medal with 6.0 points.

Among victims of So are Paragua, GM Cerdas Barus and FM Anjas Novita of Indonesia, IM Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam, IM Mas Hafizulhelmi of Malaysia, Myint Han of Myanmar, Truong Son, IM Wynn Zaw Htun of Myanmar and Subramaniam Sumant of Malaysia. Over-all, the Philippine chess team bagged 7 medals, including gold in the blitz competition.

Here's the complete details of the Filipino woodpushers under the leadership of NCFP Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr: Men Blitz (GM Wesley So, Gold Medal), Men Blitz (GM Mark Paragua, Bronze), Men Standard (GM Wesley So, Silver), Women Standard (WFM Rul Ylem Jose, Silver), Blindfold (GM John Paul Gomez, Silver), Blindfold (GM Darwin Laylo, Bronze) and Mixed pair (GM Oliver Barbosa and WIM Catherine Perena, Silver).