Fil-Am Michael Ocido wins big in U.S. chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 05 Jul 2023
MANILA---Filipino-American Michael Ocido bested 165 other players in a 7-Round Swiss format to share first place for the 2023 Las Vegas International Chess Festival Under -2300 category recently held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Ocido, who is from Queens, New York, took home the cash prize of $4,500 after scoring 6.5 points in seven rounds.
Isaac Martinez also got similar 6.5 points to receive $4,500.
Anton Barash wound up third with 6.0 points for S1,500 for his efforts.
The tournament was organized by the Las Vegas Chess Festival under the direction of FIDE Trainer and International Arbiter Allan Lossof.
The 32-year old Ocido said that the opponents he faced were extremely competitive, especially with the entry of many young and unheralded players.
“But with some luck, my experience still prevailed in the games I [played],” said Ocido, a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management Graduate Student at West Negros in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
Ocido, who hails from Victorias City, Negros Occidental scored victories over Nicholas Chrysanthou (Round 1), Kevin Fong (Round 2), Armen Andranigian (Round 3), Cole A Rice (Round 4), Ali Mirafzali (Round 5), and Woman Fide Master Sophie Morris-Suzuki (Round 6). He drew with Barash in the last round.
National Master Tony Aguirre said that Ocido will most likely join the National Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in November and the North American Open in Las Vegas, Nevada in December.
Ocido is known in Filipino chess circles in the tri-state area for his aggressive style of play in chess, which he complements with great sacrificial instincts.
Other chess achievements of Ocido whose International chess campaign supported by NM Aguirre, Fide Instructor Dari Castro and US based GM Richard Bitoon of StarWizard Chess are 2015 Johor Challengers Champion in Malaysia, 2015 Negros Closed Champion, Champion of Several Open tournaments in Negros, 2018 HD Bank Challengers Champion in Vietnam, 2019 Under 2200 category Marshall Chess Club Champion in New York and 2019 Under 2200 category Washington International Champion.-Marlon Bernardino-
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