GOOD START OF CEBUANO SEVILLANO IN 2009!

AGOURA HILLS, CALIFORNIA—ENRICO Sevillano has done it again! The former Southwestern University stand-out prevailed over International Master Andranik Matikozyan in a tie break points to ruled the just concluded Western Class Championships here at the Reinassance Hotel last Monday, concide the celebrating of Martin Luther King Jr. day.

Actually, Sevillano, a native of Cebu under the protegee of NM/sportsman Matias “Bombi” Aznar, and Matikozyan, both finished 5.5 points in this seven round-Swiss System tournament (Master section) which organized by the Continental Chess Association (CCA) headed by husband and wife tandem Bill and Brenda Goichberg.

Three Filipino also shines in their respective class. Filipino and US Chess master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., a sports journalist finished seven in the Expert section with 4.0 points, Remigio Pampliega, a Filipino here in Panorama finished second in the Class A group with 5.5 points while Alex Guillermo, also a Filipino here in Lancaster finished third in the Class E with 5.0 points.

” Maraming salamat sa suporta ng mga kababayan natin dito sa Amerika, lalu na ang kanilang mga panalangin sa aking paglalaro dito.” said Sevillano,  a member of Heritage Bible Church. a Fil-Am Christian Ministry here in Bakersfield which founded by Pastor Jojo Culaniban, also a Filipino Pastor Missionary.

” Target ko talaga na makuha ang grandmaster title,” added Sevillano, who improved his last year’s 5th place finish here in Western Class Championships.

The California-based Sevillano, won the Asian Junior crown in 1986, took part in the Manila Olympiad of 1992 and soon after that migrated to the United States.

Last year he has scored a number of big wins like the Southern California Chess Federation State Championships last October in Los Angeles, California and the prestigious 109th annual US Open Chess Championships last October in Dallas, Texas.

BY: NATIONAL MASTER MARLON BERNARDINO.