Wednesday, January 14, 2009 Balingasag boy tops Italy Open By Lynde Salgados
AFTER becoming the country's newest International Master, Misamis Oriental pride Virgilio Vuelban is now on target and, in fact, in strong contention of producing the first ever Grandmaster title for Mindanao.
Finishing ahead of GM foes in the field is the latest feat the native of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental had just achieved to spark his name as one of the successful Filipino chess campaigners today in the tough European chess circuits.
Vuelban, who is a nephew of Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno and is now based in Rome, Italy, emerged champion in the XV International Montecatine Chess Tournament in Montecatine, Italy.
A former mainstay of the Philippine Navy team, Vuelban actually tied with four others -- GM Igor Naumkin, GM Igor Efimov, IM Pierluigi Piscopo and FM Mario Sibilio -- with 5 points each to show in the six-round Swiss event. But the gutsy Filipino player, who is also concurrent president of Filipino Chess Club in Rome, got superior tiebreak results to bag the championship trophy.
Vuelban's victories were made at the expense of Constantino Giobbi, Gaetano Bocchicchio, Doriano Tocchioni and FM Sibilio. He held to a draw GMs Naumkin and Efimov in the last two rounds of the Italy Open that attracted a total of 104 participants from different countries in Europe and the Asian continent.
"With the help of sir Butch, I think the GM quest is achievable," said Vuelban referring to Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., erstwhile congressman of Surigao del Sur and now the most productive chairman of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).
Vuelban's fruitful drive in Europe can be attributed to business tycoon Philippe J. Lhuillier, Philippine Ambassador to Italy, who drums up full support for the young Filipino talent.
"Todo suporta lang ang kailangan at kayang-kaya n'yang mag-GM," noted out Philippine Daily Inquirer correspondent Marlon Bernardino, who is also a US chess master.
Vuelban became the Philippines' newest IM after his 2390 elo ratings soar to 2411 in the Fide's (World Chess Federation) January 2009 list.
According to Fide Handbook rules, aside from getting at least three IM norms, an IM aspirant needs to break the 2400 elo barrier to complete his IM title requirement. However, Vuelban must have to wait the Fide General Assembly to confirm his coveted IM title.
During Pichay's term as NCFP president, at least four Filipinos in the likes of teen sensation Wesley So (15 years old), Darwin Laylo, Jayson Gonzales and John Paul Gomez were able to make it to the elite GM circle.
The Philippines already has a total of ten Grandmasters that include Asia's first GM Eugene Torre, the late Rosendo Balinas, 12-time RP Open champion Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr., Buenaventura "Bong" Villamayor, Nelson Mariano II and Mark Paragua.
"Sana matulungan ako ng NCFP under sir Butch Pichay na ma-process ang IM title application ko through NCFP Fide delegate Mr. Casto "Toti" Abundo for official confirmation para po magamit ko na yong mga IM privileges for international competitions dito sa Europe at makapag-concentrate ng maigi sa GM quest. Ang hirap kasi maging professional chess player pag Fide master ka lang kasi walang masyadong invitation at bayad pa lahat sa accommodation," Vuelban was further quoted by Bernardino as saying.
Final Standings:
5.0 pts--Virgilio Vuelban, GM Igor Naumkin, GM Igor Efimov, IM Pierluigi Piscopo, FM Mario Sibilio; 4.5 pts--GM Miroljub Lazic, IM Nenad Aleksic, FM Mauricio Caposciutti, FM Pietro Mola, Alessandro Bove, IM Spartaco Sarno.
