TWO FILIPINO CHESSERS DOMINATES FRANCE CHESS

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—TWO Filipino chessers made the country’s proud by winning first and second in just concluded the 11th Open International de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines International Open Chess Championship in France, recently.

The newly RP’s 11th Grandmaster Joseph Sanchez also the former coach of child prodigy GM Mark Paragua who now lived in the south of France was actually leading until the last round salvage a draw against GM Namig Guliyev from Azerbijan in 9th and final round gathered a total score of 7.5out of 9 rounds the same score achieved with his compatriot IM Roland Salvador who is based in Milan by beating their local hero Legrand Stephane in the final round, But The Cebuano Sanchez, a protegee of sportsman/ NM Matias “Bombi” Aznar was declared first due to his big performance  of 2573 and Salvador’s 2544.

Maria Angela Ponce, Second Secretary and Consul  of the Philippine Embassy in Paris, France said “On behalf of Ambassador Rora Navarro-Tolentino and the Philippine Embassy in Paris, I congratulate you for winning the 11th Open International de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.You make our country proud,” said Baguio City native Ponce, also the daughter of former Councilor Napoleon Ponce and Angelita Abrera-Ponce.

by:MARLON BERNARDINO