MINDANAO’s rising chess star Christian Gian Karlo Arca will try his luck against a heavy field of local and foreign Grandmasters in the MPCL Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Festival slated to start today until December 17 at the Family Country Hotel in General Santos City.
The 13-year-old pride of Davao del Norte, who made his presence felt in two recent chess events in Cagayan de Oro, is seeking to improve his world ratings in the cash-rich tourney.
Super Grandmaster Vitaliy Bernadskiy of Ukraine (Elo 2615) leads a strong cast of foreign visitors that include Hovhannes Gabuzyan of Armenia (Elo 2586), Lucas Van Foreest of the Netherlands (Elo 2577), Vitaly Sivuk of Sweden (Elo 2570), and Luigi Basso Pier of Italy (Elo 2516).
Among the early registrants were International Masters (IM) Daniel Bryant of the USA (Elo 2413) and Dragos Ceres of Moldova (Elo 2412), Konstantin Sek of Russia (Elo 2426), Wee Zhun Teh of Malaysia (Elo 1908), and Edgardo Borigas of Hongkong (Elo 1734).
“This is a very good opportunity for him to level up his chess strength. Iba talaga ang lesson na matutunan kapag mga dalubhasang dayuhan ang makakalaban across the 64-square-board,” said Filipino chess journalist Marlon Bernardino of the young and promising Arca.
