Pinoy woodpusher from Cebu-Davao makes waves in Saudi
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 03 Jul 2013
A middle-east based Filipino is making waves in the field of chess as he makes a name for himself in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
1997 Philippine Junior Champion National Master Elwin Herbias Retanal scored 10 points in eleven rounds to cop first place in the just concluded Saudi Riyadh International Rapid Chess Championship dubbed as Al Riyadh Open INT chess tournament 2013 held last June 27 to 28 at the Saladin Hotel in Al Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The 84th seed Saudi based Retanal registered a performance rating of 2350. His crucial win was against top seed IM Mohamed Tissir (2422) of Morocco in the sixth round but conceded his only loss in the next round against 9th seed Gaafar Hassan of Egypt.
Overall, his victories over three other Fide Masters from Bahrain and Jordan clearly put him at the top, half a point ahead over IM Tissir with 9.5 points.
Retanal currently works at Princess Nora bint Abdul Rahman University in KSA. Born and raised in Minglanilla, Cebu City but found a new home in Sitio Talisay, Barangay Mana, Malita, Davao del Sur.
Five other Filipino campaigners registered remarkable outings and placed inside the top twenty one. Alvin Alcala, (4th place/8.0 points), Aldrin Gallardo (10th place/7.5 points), Anatoly Guaniezo (12th place/7.5 points), Noli Delloro (17th place/7.0 points) and Drigo Teves (21st place/7.0 points)
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) chairman/president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. was elated Retanal's big win in the Saudi Riyadh International Rapid Chess Championship in the event was organized by Saudi Chess Association in cooperation with Qatar Chess Federation and NGiT.
"Once again Filipino woodpusher proved that we can shine in chess and that's what Elwin (Retanal) did, iI hope that we should give chess more attention in our country so that we can produce more champions in abroad." said Pichay, also the deputy president of ASEAN Chess Federation.-Marlon Bernardino-
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
OLYMPIC BOXING 2: 1908 OLYMPICS AT LONDON, ENGLAND
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sat, 22 Nov 2025FRANCISCO VERON DOMINATES ROIMAN VILLA IN MAIN EVENT OF PROBOXTV’S FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS AT WAR MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM IN FORT LAUDERDALE
Sat, 22 Nov 2025Lining enters Round of 32
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 22 Nov 2025The Ring IV: Night of Champions Set to Ignite Riyadh Saturday
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 22 Nov 2025Final list of candidates announced for elections at World Boxing Congress 2025
Sat, 22 Nov 2025RING/DAZN PPV Card Gives Bang for the Bucks
By Chris Carlson, Fri, 21 Nov 2025WEIGHTS FROM PROBOXTV’S FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS
Fri, 21 Nov 2025JC Chavez Jr to return in January 2026
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 20 Nov 2025Houston Rockets Subdue Cleveland Cavaliers, 114-104, Gain Tie for 2nd in the West
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 20 Nov 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 1: 1904 OLYMPICS AT ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, UNITED STATES
By Maloney L. Samaco, Thu, 20 Nov 2025Pacquiao, Nine Other Pinoys in Latest Ring Ratings
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 20 Nov 2025QUOTES FROM MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS LOS ANGELES OPEN WORKOUT AT WILD CARD BOXING CLUB AND LAS VEGAS OPEN WORKOUT AHEAD OF NOV. 29 FIGHT NIGHT AT PECHANGA RESORT CASINO
Thu, 20 Nov 2025Super Featherweight Sluggers ‘Tsendy’ Erdenebat and Abraham Montoya Agree to Meet in Short-Notice Co-Featured Bout on Proboxtv’s Friday Night Fights
Thu, 20 Nov 2025Cartagenas, Yu top 4th DCHS Fun Run
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 20 Nov 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 18 NOVEMBER 2025: Espinosa Defeats Khegai; Benn Gets Even With Eubank Jnr; Catterall Stops Essuman
By Eric Armit, Wed, 19 Nov 2025