Philippines, 07 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Wunderkid Arca Earns 2nd International Master Norm In Vietnam Tourney; pockets chess title


PhilBoxing.com


Final Standings:
6.0 points---FM Christian Gian Karlo Arca ( Philippines)
5.5 points---CM Dinh Nho Kiet (Vietnam)
5.0 points---IM Michael Concio Jr. (Philippines), GM Nguyen Anh Dung (Vietnam)
4.5 points---GM John Paul Gomez (Philippines), IM Liu Xiangyi (Singapore)
4.0 points---IM Lou Yiping (China), CM Dau Khuong Duy (Vietnam)
3.5 points---GM Tran Tuan Minh (Vietnam)
3.0 points---IM Setyaki Azarya Jodi (Indonesia)

Manila---FIDE Master (FM) Christian Gian Karlo Arca of the Philippines halved the point with Candidate Master (CM) Dau Khuong Duy of Vietnam in the last round to earn his second International Master norm in the Quang Ninh GM2 chess tournament in Ha Long Ward, Ha Long City, Vietnam on Sunday.

Arca, playing black, drew with Dau after 67 moves of Caro kann defense, advance variation.

The 15-year-old woodpusher from Dasmariñas City, Cavite finished the round robin tournament with 6.0 points on three wins and six draws en route the coveted chess title, organized by Viet Nam Chess Federation.

Arca’s other draws were against Grandmaster (GM) Nguyen Anh Dung of Vietnam (Round 1), International Master (IM) Michael Concio Jr. of the Philippines (Round 4), International Master (IM) Liu Xiangyi of Singapore (Round 6), Grandmaster (GM) John Paul Gomez of the Philippines (Round 7) and Candidate Master (CM) Dinh Nho Kiet of Vietnam (Round 8).

He beat International Master (IM) Yiping Lou of China (Round 2), International Master (IM) Azarya Jodi Setyaki of Indonesia (Round 3) and top seed Grandmaster (GM) Tran Tuan Minh of Vietnam (Round 5).

The Grade 9 student from Dasmariñas Integrated High School has gained 62.8 ELO points from the Vietnam event, to be added to his rating of 2265 as of May 1, 2024.

Christian is among the top players of the star-studded Dasmariñas Chess Academy of Mayor Jenny Austria-Barzaga and national coach FIDE Master Roel Abelgas.

“Christian was very happy to get his second IM norm in the tournament. He needs one more norm to complete his IM title, so he’s really motivated,” said Abelgas.

“Again I would like to dedicate my victory to my countrymen especially to the late Cong. Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga Jr. It’s an honor to represent our country,” said Arca who also got his first IM norm during the 18th IGB Dato' Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championships held on Aug. 28 to Sept. 3, 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

To become an IM, a player must get the three norms over 27 or more games and a FIDE rating of 2400 or more. ELO is a rating system to measure the skill level of players in games.

Meanwhile, Christian, who hails from Panabo City is scheduled to compete in the Hanoi GM closed tournament on May 21-26 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

He will also join the 8th Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship on July 12-21, 2024 in Penang, Malaysia.-Marlon Bernardino-


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • All Star Boxing live on ESPN DEPORTES Weights from Nicaragua
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Ryan Rozicki’s Return: Presser Quotes from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Undefeated Heavyweight Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo Returns to Headline “Havoc at the Hilton 3” March 7 in Florida
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • AQ Prime Chess bet Marius Zabanal Constante of Pasig City rules Elementary Division of NCR Palarong Pambansa Standard chess elims
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Battles Mexican Strongman Manuel Gallegos
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Travels to Thailand for 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Eddie Hearn Signs UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall for New Matchroom Talent Agency
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Wise Owl Boxing Signs Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect  Ebenezer “The Stuntman” Griffith
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • International Boxing Association Strengthens Strategic Presence in Cape Verde Following High-Level Official Visit
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Asia's First GM Eugene Torre 2nd in Russia chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Champion Oscar "El Pupilo" Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of March 14 Fight
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Men's Youth High Performance Team Announced
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Women’s Youth High Performance Team Announced
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Michael Linde rules Pangasinan chessfest
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 MARCH 2026: Navarrete Stops Nunez; Parra Jnr Outpoints Pierce; Wins by Emiliano Vargas and Abel Ramos
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • Team Philippines Crowned Champions of the 2026 Predator WPA Teams World Championship
    , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • IBA President Umar Kremlev calls for radical reform of the Olympic Movement and equal rights for athletes
    , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Boxing—A Spectacle of Masses and Millennial Stages
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Golden Boy Promotions Vs Virgil Ortiz Jr going to arbitration?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Boxlab Promotions Signs Undefeated Nicaraguan Knockout Artist Jordan “La Cobrita” Orozco
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • STACKED MARCH 14 UNDERCARD SHOWCASES GOLDEN BOY’S NEXT GENERATION OF CHAMPIONS 
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • The Perfect Boxing Prospect 12-0 Marco Romero
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Quietly formidable boxers Kristian Prenga & Pyrce Taylor continue Their assault on the heavyweight division
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • “Prince” Albert Pagara Flies to Perth for WBC Australasia Title Fight
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Ryan Daye vows a dominant standout performance in WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth Thunderdome 53
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.