Yolanda survivor NM Engr. Mario Lawsin Rebano rules 2024 World Open U-2000 chess tilt; pockets USD 12,000
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 09 Jul 2024
Manila---Mario Lawsin Rebano reigned supreme in the 2024 World Open U-2000 chess championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 7.
“I offer this victory to my fellow Filipinos, especially the people of Tacloban City (Leyte’s highly urbanized city) and all victims of calamities like me,” beamed the 57-year-old chess champion, in an interview of US based sports writer and columnist Alex Vidal who bested 226 players in the category for chessers rated 2000 and below.
This is the his biggest-ever achievement of Rebano since campaigning in the United States after surviving the 2013 superstorm “Yolanda” in Leyte in the Philippines.
The Filipino civil engineer, who left Brgy. Sagkahan 63 in Tacloban to live in New York, started hot in the 9-round Swiss System tournament that offered a top prize of $12,000 (Philippine Peso 705,000) by romping off with six points in the first six rounds.
Rebano (1967 US rating) played Caro-Kann Defense and was slowed down with a draw in Round 7 against Russia’s Stephan Kalinichev (1864 US rating) but hiked his output to 6.5 points entering the crucial last two rounds.
“I sensed Kalinichev was having a running nose and had a difficulty swapping bombs with my Caro-Kann repertoire, but I didn’t want to put him away because I thought I was safe with two rounds left in the tournament, thus I agreed for a draw,” Rebano recalled.
In the 8th round, Rebano was pitted against highly regarded fellow Filipino Jan Vincent Paragua (1960 US rating), head coach of the US representative on the FIDE World Cadets Chess Tournament, whom he blasted in Pirc Defense for another full point to vault on top with 7.5 points entering the 9th and last round.
Paragua, brother of Filipino Grand Master and Olympian Mark, incurred his lone defeat and settled for solo 6th place.
In the last round, Rebano, a national master (NM) in the Philippines, employed another Caro-Kann Defense Panov variation, but could not nail the win against the dangerous Russian Dimitry Gorelik (1897 US rating) and settled for draw.
“I trained hard and played with young chess players in Queens trained by Michael Ocedo (a Filipino chess trainer). Two weeks before the World Open, I stopped playing and just relaxed,” disclosed the undefeated Rebano, who walked away with 8 points to annex the U-2000 title in the tournament held from June 26 to July 7, 2024.
In a heartbreaking development, what could have been a double celebration for the 2024 World Open chess Philippine contingent turned into nightmare for Vincent Umayan (2170 US rating), a United States Chess Federation (USCF) master from Davao, lost his last match in the Under-2200 category to finish solo 5th place with 7 points.
Like Rebano, Umayan was undefeated entering the last round and needed only a draw to pocket the Under-2200 championship.
"It was a heartbreaking loss for Umayan because his opponent (Kamran Rawshani, 2176 US rating) was two pieces down but managed to promote his pawn into queen,” narrated Rebano, who described the match as “tension-filed and thrilling.”
Umayan scorched six opponents and drew two matches good for $750 cash before succumbing to Rawshani, who bankrolled the $12,000 top prize.-Marlon Bernardino-
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Chaos in Liverpool: Figueroa Silences Echo Arena with 12th-Round Fireworks
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 08 Feb 2026Gabriel Santisima Stuns Unbeaten World Ranked and WBO Asia Pacific Champion Subaru Murata to Capture WBO Asia Pacific Title at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Sun, 08 Feb 2026Lucky "Batang Quiapo" Salvador defeats Rhaky "Roj" Constantino
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 08 Feb 2026Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa: Scrappy Styles Matchup in Liverpool
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 07 Feb 2026Undefeated Middleweight Sebastian Juarez Returns to the Ring February 6 in Guadalajara
Fri, 06 Feb 2026Esquillo, Arpilleda to compete at Lunar Horse Battle Royal 10-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 06 Feb 2026WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR MEDINA VS. CURIEL IN MEXICO, PLUS MAIN EVENT QUOTES
Fri, 06 Feb 2026Rene Tellez Giron & Luis Torres Battle for Mexican Pride in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
Fri, 06 Feb 2026Gomera and Ding are set to clash for the WBC Asia 126 belt
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 05 Feb 2026“Thunderdome 53 is stacked and I cant wait to see these fights March 13 at Thunderdome 53 - Promoter Tony Tolj
Thu, 05 Feb 2026WORLD ELITE SUMO MAKES ITS PRUDENTIAL CENTER DEBUT ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Sumalinog Brothers Score Wins in Bohol; Sign with Monty Flores (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 05 Feb 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH TEAM BOXING LEAGUE
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Trifon Petrov unveils the signing of another USA Team member in Ariana Carrasco
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Jerome Gonzales off to a marvelous start in J&P 10 Ball Cup at Pacman's Cue Club
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Feb 2026