Suede clinches WIM title

TAGAYTAY CITY—Bright Filipino prospect Mikee Charlene Suede ruled the distaff side of the Asian Juniors and Girls Chess Championships and secured her Woman International Master title at Tagaytay International Convention Center last night.

The Open division crown, however, went as expected to Indian International Master Srinath Narayanan, who lived up to his top billing by foiling Fide Master Paulo Bersamina’s strong challenge.

Though assured of the title after the eighth round Wednesday night, Suede and Narayanan trounced their opponents in the ninth and final to cap their solid performances.

Sustaining her amazing climb from the bottom, Suede beat Indian PV Nandhidhaa for her seventh straight win that padded her total to 7.5 points in the 16-player Girls’ division of the tournament confined to players 20 years and younger.

Indian WFM J. Saranya secured second place with 6.5 points following a hard-earned triumph over Gladys Hazelle Romero.

WIM Furtado Ivana Maria, also of India, settled for third after repulsing Karen Mariano. Ivana Maria notched 6.0 points like fourth placer WFM Sholppan Zhylkaidarova of Kazakhstan.

Elated by her first international title, Suede, a Physical Education senior at University of the Philippines, said she will now devote more time to chess.

“After graduation, I’ll pursue my chess career for the next five years,” said the 20-year-old Suede. “Chess is really my first love.”

Apart from the WIM title, Suede also gained a Woman Grandmaster norm, according to Asian Chess Federation executive director and chief arbiter Casto Abundo.

Narayanan downed cellar-dweller Renz Marvin Santos for his seventh win against two draws. He finished with 8.0 points, a full point ahead of Bersamina, who likewise emerged unbeaten in the 14-player Open division.

The 16-year-old Bersamina, a Tromso Chess Olympian and World Juniors campaigner this year, downed Radcliffe Paras of Guam to finish with five wins and four draws.

Ateneo stalwart IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia secured third place by whipping Alzarovni Ahmad of the United Arab Emirates. Garcia raised his total to 6.5 points in the nine-nation tournament supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Cavite Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who hosted the nine-nation tournament on short notice following the withdrawal of organizers from Shandong, China, said Suede’s victory made the event a worthwhile undertaking.

Tolentino, also the World Chess Federation (Fide) secretary general, graced the closing ceremony with his wife, Tagaytay City Mayor Agnes Tolentino.

Also present were Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre and Judge Gonzalo Mapili, director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.