Sadorra gets Grandmaster title

MANILA—Call Julio Catalino “Ino” Sadorra Grandmaster.

Sadorra was officially conferred the title by the World Chess Federation (Fide) during the second quarter Fide presidential board meeting held in AL Ain, United Arab Emirates, from June 4 to 7.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Prospero “Butch” Pichay relayed Sadorra’s recognition yesterday, adding that Chardine Cheradee Camacho and Catherine Perena were also bestowed Woman International Master titles.

The 25-year-old Sadorra, an applied mathematics sophomore at the University of Texas-Dallas, actually completed the GM requirements in March, when he beat GM Alexander Shabalov in the 10th round of the UT Dallas Grandmaster Invitational pitting the UT-Dallas team against an all-GM squad.

Sadorra’s recognition was deferred until he raised his Elo rating to 2508, breaching the required 2500.
“I can’t reduce my success to a formula, but it comes down to hard work and faith,” said Sadorra, who became the country’s 14th GM. “I felt so elated and relieved.”

The other Pinoy GMs are Wesley So (Elo 2667), Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. (2589), Mark Paragua (2542), Joseph Sanchez (2539), Roland Salvador (2538), John Paul Gomez (2538), Rogelio Barcenilla (2518), Darwin Laylo (2516), Eugene Torre (2495), Nelson Mariano (2447), Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor (2440), Jayson Gonzales (2405) and the late Rosendo Balinas Jr.