3RD GM NORM FOR CEBUANO ENRICO SEVILLANO AT 21ST METROPOLITAN CHESS FIDE INVITATIONAL
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 13 Aug 2012
Sevillano.
FILIPINO Enrico Sevillano (ELO 2526) won the 21st Metropolitan Chess FIDE Invitational and a Grandmaster norm during the 10-player round-robin tournament held last August 3-7 at the Radisson Los Angeles Airport Hotel in Los Angeles, California, USA.
The Cebuano native woodpusher who is currently based in California tallied six points in nine outings.
Sevillano, the 1986 Asian junior champion, two time Philippine Chess Olympiad player (1992 & 1994), 2008 U.S. Open Champion and the first Filipino ever to qualify for the U.S. Championship in 2009, defeated USA?s IM Melikset Khachiyan and IM Levon Altounian in the last two round en route to his 3rd and final GM norm, making him GM-elect.
Tying for second were GM Robert Hess of the USA (ELO 2624) and IM Roman Yankovsky of Russia (ELO 2468) both with 5.5 out of 9.0.
?Ikong? Sevillano, as fondly called by the old-timers and those who know him, achieved his 2nd GM norm in the 13th Metropolitan Chess FIDE Invitational last December 2011.
Sevillano is a member of Heritage Bible Church. A Fil-Am Christian Ministry in Bakersfield, California which was founded by Pastor Jojo Culaniban, also a Filipino Pastor Missionary.
"Congratulation to our very own International Master Enrico Sevillano for clinching his 3rd and final GrandMaster Norm! You are the Philippine's newest GrandMaster! The Ahedres ng Pilipinas family salutes you! We are so proud of you! Keep up the good work!" said US master Ruben Ondangan, a close friend of Sevillano and also a Filipino Pastor from Lancaster, California who hails from Marikina City.
With his latest feat, Sevillano is the third Cebuano Grandmaster following the foot-step of Paris-based Joseph Sanchez and Richard Bitoon.
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