INQUIRER Sports

Final Standings:

6.5 points---IM Jean Herbert (Canada), GM Joseph Sanchez (Philippines), IM Anthony Wirig (France)

6.0 points---IM Fred Berend (Luxembourg), IM Petar Arnaudov (Bulgaria)

5.5 points---IM Claude Landenbergue (Switzerland)

PARIS - based Filipino Grandmaster Joseph Sanchez scored 6.5 points in nine rounds to finish second overall behind Canadian IM Jean Hebert at the International Championship of French Speaking Countries dubbed as the 1st Francophone Chess Festival which ran from Sept. 27-Oct. 4 at Arvier, Aosta Valley, Italy.

The Cebuano native Sanchez, a protégé of NM Matias ?Bombi? Aznar, and the country?s 11th grandmaster who once coached GM Mark Paragua, actually tied with Hebert and French IM Anthony Wirig with 6.5 points.

Herbert, the Canadian Closed Championship winner and World Cup participant was eventually awarded the title with a superior tiebreak output while IM Wirig dropped to third place in the tournament which attracted 28 players from 14 countries.

IM Fred Berend of Luxembourg and IM Petar Arnaudov of Bulgaria shared 4th to 5th places with 6.0 points each while IM Claude Landenbergue of Switzerland finished 6th overall with 5.5 points.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero ?Butch? Pichay Jr. congratulated Sanchez on his victory, saying his feat will help Filipino players regain respect on the international stage.