San Diego earns WIM title

Marie Antoinette San Diego beat fellow Woman Fide Master Allaney Gia Jia in the ninth and final round Sunday to gain an outright Woman International Master title in the Eastern Asia Juniors Chess Championships in Tagaytay City.

The 18-year-old San Diego, a third year BS Psychology student of De La Salle University, wound up with 7.5 points, tying Chinese Ruotong Chu for top spot in the girls division.

The top-seeded Chu, who beat Singaporean Ruiqi Tin, emerged winner through higher tiebreak points.

Malaysian WFM Nur Najiha Azman Hisham took third with 6.0 points despite a loss to Indonesian Vania Vindry Chandra.

Indian FM Novendra Priasmoro downed Kyz Llantada to run away with the boys’ title.

Priasmoro finished with 7.0 points, towing 6.0 pointers FM Yoseph Theofilus Taher of Indonesia, Candidate Master Stephen Rome Pangilinan and Daniel Quizon. Taher yielded to Singaporean IM Jingyao Tin.

Pangilinan, a grade 8 student of Philippine Science High School, bowed to IM Paulo Bersamina, while Quizon drew with Malaysian FM Eu Wen Aron Teh.

The Swiss event was hosted by Cavite Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino in his capacity as secretary general of the World Chess Federation and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines. —ROY LUARCA