VIRGILIO VUELBAN IS NEW INTERNATIONAL MASTER

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA—FIDE MASTER (FM) Virgilio Vuleban finished a tie for fourth along with three others in the just concluded Italian Open Chess Championships in Italy and become the Philippines’ newest International Master (IM).

The former Philippine Navy top player Vuelban, who is a nephew of Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno finished 5.5 points in nine outings, the same output of GM Spyridon Skembris and FMs Alessio de Sanctis and Flavio Guido.

De Santis and Guido, both also gained IM norm according to the official website yesterday which topped by GM Viorel Iordachescu who tote 6.5 points.
GM Milan Drasko and IM Fabio Bruno shared 2nd to 3rd placers with 6.0 points each.
It was fourth IM norm of Vuelban in this event, enjoyed the full support of Philippe J. Lhuillier, Philippine Ambassador to Italy,

In the (FIDE) World Chess Federation January 2009 list, Vuelban, also the president of the Filipino Chess Club in Rome (Italy) jumped his 2390 rating to 2411, enough for full-pledge IM title.
According to Fide Handbook rules, aside from getting at least three IM norm, an IM aspirant needed to broke 2400 Elo barrier to complete his IM title requirement. However, Vuelban needed to wait the Fide General Assembly to confirm his coveted IM title. National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., was elated Vuelban’s latest feat.

” Binabati natin si (Virgilio)Vuelban, kasi pinatunayan niya sa buong mundo na kaya nating mga Filipino na makipagsabayan at mapakita ang talino natin at husay sa larangan ng chess,” said Pichay, who produced four (4) grandmaster (GM) under his term in the likes of Wesley So, Darwin Laylo, Jayson Gonzales and John Paul Gomez.

BY: NATIONAL MASTER MARLON BERNARDINO