MANILA, Philippines—Now, Jayson Gonzales can really be called a Grandmaster.

Buoyed by his victory in last month’s Subic Open international chess championship and a strong showing in the recent RP-Myanmar Dual Match, Gonzales’ ELO rating breached the 2500-mark required of any GM by the world chess federation, FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs).

Though he completed the GM requirements last year, Gonzales’ confirmation got stalled as his ELO rating in the April 1 FIDE rating list was only 2468.

The 34-year-old Gonzales gained 22 points for topping the Subic Open and added 30 more after scoring nine points (six wins and six draws) in the Philippines’ lopsided 46.5-25.5 win over Myanmar in their 12-round duel at the Lake Garden Hotel in Tagaytay City.

Gonzales, a mainstay of the Philippine Army, only needs to wait for the July 1 ratings to formally join Eugene Torre, Joey Antonio Jr., Bong Villamayor, Nelson Mariano, Mark Paragua, Darwin Laylo, Wesley So and the late Rosendo Balinas in the elite club of Filipino GMs.

“I’m grateful to Rep. (Butch) Pichay because he didn’t stop supporting me in local and international tournaments to get my GM title,” said Gonzales, coach of UAAP chess champion team Far Eastern University. Roy Luarca