PH Teen Arca Upsets Super GM Gustafsson
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 16 Apr 2025
Arca (L) defeats super GM Gustafsson in the third round.
Bangkok, Thailand---Teen sensation FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca of the Philippines kept the lead after a third- round conquest of the top seed Super Grandmaster Jan Gustafsson of Germany in the on going 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open Tuesday, April 15,2025 at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
Playing white, Arca, who holds an ELO rating of 2250, prevailed over the two-time winner of Bangkok Chess Club Open Gustafsson, who possessed an ELO of 2601 after 39 moves of a Reti Opening.
"Hope yung magandang pagsisimula ng performance ko po dito sa Bangkok ay magtuloy tuloy para sa posibleng pag sungkit ng IM norm o GM norm," said the 16-year old Arca, who hails from Panabo City, Davao del Norte, the youngest member of the National Training Pool.
Also carried the good fight for the Filipinos were International Master Michael Concio Jr. and International Master Paulo Bersamina.
Concio toppled CM Benhood Delavari of Iran while Bersamina edged countryman Marc Kevin Labog.
With the win, Arca, Concio and Bersamina raised their total to 3.0 points, the same output of GM Evgeny Romanov of Macedonia, GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly of India, GM Vitaliy Bernadskiy of Ukraine, IM James Morris of Australia, GM Stephen Gordon of England, IM Arif Abdul Hafiz of Indonesia, Wei Yuyang of China, GM Babu MR Lalith of India and FM Alexander Chernyavsky of Russia.
Filipino and United chess master Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. defeated Peerathat Asvahem of Thailand in Round 3 of the Challenger section to score 2.0 points in 3 outings. Among those who are supporting NM Bernardino's chess campaign are ALC Group of Companies Chairman and CEO Dominic Edgard Cabangon, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chairman and CEO Alejandro “Al” Tengco, Mayor Joy Belmonte, Mayor Jon Jon Ferrer, Mr. Jessie Villasin and International Billiard and Snooker Champion Marlon Manalo.
Meanwhile, WNM Arvie Lozano, John Paul De Guzman, Remark Bartolome, Zwe Wait Yan Lin of Myanmar, Tran Nguyen Dang Koa of Vietnam, Azzamy Khalid Shafwan of Indonesia and Nikolay Gutsulyak of Russia posted their third consecutive wins to create a 7-way tie for first placers in the Challenger section.-Marlon Bernardino-
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Esneth Domingo Trains at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles Ahead of His US Debut
Tue, 17 Mar 2026Tatay Digong Birthday Run on March 28
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 17 Mar 202612-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri
Tue, 17 Mar 2026700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 17 Mar 2026United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
Mon, 16 Mar 2026Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 16 Mar 2026Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
Sun, 15 Mar 2026WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
Sun, 15 Mar 2026John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 15 Mar 2026Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
Sun, 15 Mar 2026Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Mar 2026USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
Sun, 15 Mar 2026Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 15 Mar 2026World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
Sat, 14 Mar 2026Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
Sat, 14 Mar 2026