DAVAO City's international master (IM) John Marvin Miciano, seeded 52nd, upset 15th-seeded Chinese woman grand master (WGM) Zhongyi Tan in the penultimate round of the 17th Asian Continental Blitz Championships held at Tiara Oriental Hotel in Makati City.
He also shocked Filipino GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr., seeded 23rd, in the opening round.
But the 18-year-old Far Eastern University (FEU) varsity scholar Miciano finished 42nd having tallied a total of 3.5 points after nine rounds in the 59-player open field.
“More of learning experience po at the same time assessment of areas that I have to improve and areas where I have to focus in my training. Asian Continental po eto, where the top five will be qualifiers for the World Cup, kaya very strong po talaga ang field,” Miciano told SunStar Davao Tuesday, December 18.
He, however, said that he will take a much-needed rest during the holidays.
Miciano added, “Tuloy tuloy po na international tourmaments since May 2018, kailangan ko po muna pahinga. Then training daw po muna.”
He thanked Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero Pichay, Jr. NCFP executive director Red Dumuk, PSC Commissioner Charles Raymond A. Maxey, NCFP regional director James Infiesto and Pagcor chairman Andrea Domingo for their support.
Third-seeded Iranian GM Alireza topped the event with 7.5 points followed by compatriot GM Amin Tabatabei (7.0) in second and Indian GM Santosh Gujirathi Vidit (6.5) third.
Filipino IM Roderick Nava placed ninth with six points.
Dabawenyo IM Oliver Dimakiling, who made 5.5 points, landed 12th.
In the distaff side, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna of the Philippines came fourth with six points as Chinese WGM Jue Wang emerged champion, registering 7.5 points.
Meanwhile, Dimakiling landed 37th in the men's standard division as Miciano placed 52nd. GM Yi Wei of China ruled the class.
Davao's Fide master (FM) Austin Jacob Literatus, for his part, was 10th in the Challengers division.