TWO of the three Filipino chessers who were recently conferred with the master titles by the governing world chess body have participated in the just-held Fide-rated tourney in Cagayan de Oro City.
The newly-minted International Master Eric Labog Jr, who topped the under-18 category of the 20th ASEAN+ Age-Group Chess Championships (Standard) in Myanmar in 2019, had just achieved the mandatory 2200 Elo rating requirement to complete his IM status.
This, after the 19-year-old Labog ― a freshman at Immaculada Concepcion College ― raised his Elo Standard rating of 2138 to 2242, following his fifth-place finish in the Asian Juniors Chess Championships held at the Knights of Templar Hotel in Tagaytay City last Nov. 25.
Meanwhile, the pair of David Elorta from Manila and Bacolod native Ellan Asuela, who is now relocated to Cagayan de Oro, were both awarded the Fide Master titles.
The Fide’s confirmation was made right after the 40-year-old Elorta and the 34-year-old Asuela’s one-two finish in the Mr. & Mrs. Leo G. Wabe, Sr Individual Standard Open Memorial Cup last Sunday at the Limketkai Mall, here.
“It’s such a pleasure and big honor for us to have them in our Fide-rated event before their official confirmation to the country’s elite class of chess players. We’re so proud to be part of their chess development,” organizer Ben Wabe told Gold Star Daily.
In winning the championship, the self-taught Elorta brought home the P30,000 top purse, while Asuela received the second prize trophy worth P20,000.
They also led their respective teams into the top three of the cash-rich Wabe Memorial Cup Team Tatluhan saw senator Manny Pacquiao’s MPCL squad running away with the P50,000 top prize.
