Filipino International Master Paulo Bersamina places solo runner-up in the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open in Thailand
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 22 Apr 2025
Filipino International Master Paulo Bersamina kept his unbeaten streak with a win over Grandmaster Vitaliy Bernardskiy of Ukraine in 67 moves of the Sicilian Defense, Najdorf variation, in the 9th and final round at the conclusion of the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open 2025 at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday, April 21, 2025.
He tallied 7.5 points, half a point behind the champion, Grandmaster Evgeny Romanov of North Macedonia. Romanov bested FIDE Master Ern Jie Anderson Ang of Malaysia in 38 moves of the Catalan Opening.
International Master Michael Concio Jr. finished in a shared 3rd place following a draw with Grandmaster Babu M. R. Lalith of India in 43 moves of the Queen's Pawn Game in the final round, with 7.0 points. Concio settled in 5th overall after the tie-break points were applied. Concio is the top player of the famous Dasmariñas Chess Academy, headed by Mayor Jenny Barzaga and Coach FIDE Master Roel Abelgas.
FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca wound up in a share of 16th place after losing to Grandmaster Nigel Short of England, who played the Caro-Kann Defense with white pieces.
Despite the loss, Arca still secured his 3rd IM norm in the tournament and won the top Junior award.
"Masayang-masaya po ako sa pagkapanalo ko bilang runner-up dito sa Bangkok Chess Club Open 2025," said Bersamina from Pasay City, who also won the Makruk or Thai chess tournament here.
"Mahirap yung game pero okay na din na draw," said Concio.
"Maraming salamat po kina Mayor Jenny Barzaga and Coach FM Roel Abelgas sa pagsuporta sa akin sa Bangkok," he added.
"Gusto ko manalo sa last game ko po kay Grandmaster Nigel Short para sa 1st GM norm. Pero masaya na din ako nakuha ko na po 3rd at final IM norm pero need mag-2400 ang ELO rating ko po para sa full-pledged IM title," said Arca, who needed to raise his 2330 live rating to 2400 to complete his IM title status.
Meanwhile, John Paul de Guzman, a 38-year-old Finance Manager at Sandstone Technology Philippines, made the country proud anew at the conclusion of the Challenger section of the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open 2025. The pride of Iloilo City finished in a tie for first place. He ended up in 2nd place overall after the tie-break was applied.
Khlaid Shafwan Azzamy of Indonesia took the title, while Tran Nguyen Dang Khoa of Vietnam wound up third. The trio of Azzamy, De Guzman, and Tran tallied 7.5 points each.
"Sayang natalo sa tie-break points para sa title. Hope next time mag-champion na po," said De Guzman, who was also tied for first in the Challenger section of the Singapore International Open last December.
Other Filipinos who performed well in the Challenger section, which attracted 100 participants, are WNM Arvie Lozano (5th), John Curt Valencia (9th), John Lance Valencia (10th), NM Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. (11th), and James Henry Calacday (Top Junior).
-Marlon Bernardino-
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