Filipino Elwin Retanal wins Saudi rapid chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 30 Jun 2025
Seasoned woodpusher and National Master (NM) Elwin Retanal is once again a Kingdom of Saudi Arabia champion.
Retanal topped the 2nd Only Move International FIDE Rated Rapid Chess Tournament early Sunday morning (Philippine time) at the Alfaisal University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The 1997 Philippine Junior chess champion Retanal from Minglanilla, Cebu finished the 7-round Swiss competition with a perfect 7.0 points.
He swept past Yousuf Omar Gharib, Balamurugan Rithita, and Arena International Master Nasser Asain in his first three matches.
Retanal then dismantled Jordanian Master Ghayth Ababneh before subduing Mohammed Alaqeel Abdulaziz, who is a member of Saudi Chess Federation (SCF) team in the World Chess Olympiad, in the fifth round.
Maintaining his momentum, Retanal dealt Grandmaster Abdelrahman Hesham and FIDE Master Hatem Eldesoky, both from Egypt, to complete a clean sweep that earned him 6,000 Saudi Riyal (P90,500) in cash prize.
"I would like to dedicate my victory to my countrymen," the Saudi based Retanal said.
Grandmaster Mohamed Haddouche of Algeria came second with 6.5 points, followed by Egypt's Ismail Ammar, Jordan's Ababneh Ghayth and Pakistan's Arena International Master Hamid Hassan with 6.0 points each.-Marlon Bernardino-
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SHEFFIELD WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS ALLEN AND MAKHMUDOV FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TME
Sat, 11 Oct 2025Manchester says Goodbye to Ricky Hatton
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 11 Oct 2025DAY THREE: CHUA AND GORST KNOCKED OUT AS BIADO, YAPP AND SHAW MARCH INTO LAST 16
Sat, 11 Oct 2025JARON ‘BOOTS’ ENNIS AND UISMA LIMA PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 10 Oct 2025RED OWL BOXING: BOXFEST XVI – OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS
Fri, 10 Oct 2025Irish amateur star Jim Donovan Right back in ring after pro debut
Fri, 10 Oct 2025Robert Racasa Named as the Sole Philippine Representative to the 2025 World Memory Championships in Mumbai
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 10 Oct 2025“Pitbull” Cruz Battles Skilled Lamont Roach Next!
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 10 Oct 2025Eddie Hearn Warns: Dana White's Push to Amend Ali Act Could Hide Fighter Revenues and Undermine Boxer Protections
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 10 Oct 2025SEBASTIAN "EL TRUENO" JUAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
Fri, 10 Oct 2025WBC No. 2 Cruiserweight Ryan Rozicki reinjured
Fri, 10 Oct 2025DAVE ALLEN VS ARSLANBEK MAKHMUDOV SHEFFIELD PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 10 Oct 2025HANOI OPEN DAY TWO: CHUA, GORST, BIADO, SHAW AND DUONG CRUISE INTO LAST 64 IN HANOI
Fri, 10 Oct 2025BOSTAN AND FAWAZ TRADE VERBAL BLOWS IN SHEFFIELD CITY CENTRE FACE-OFF AHEAD OF TITLE REMATCH – LIVE ON DAZN
Fri, 10 Oct 2025Yoelvis Gomez Set to Face Unbeaten Antraveous Ingram in Title Clash on DAZN
Fri, 10 Oct 2025