CAGAYAN de Oro City’s Jaime Joshua A. Frias II made waves again abroad with another dominating performance.
This, as the 36-year-old Frias ruled the 26th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival open section on August 10, 2019 at Sophitel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Frias, a former Barangay chairman and now an elected Kagawad of brgy. 23, finished the 9-round Swiss System Tournament with 8 wins in the first eight rounds and a draw in the final match against International Master Ibrahim Sultan of the host country.
He was a full-point ahead of India’s Sumit Grover and Sultan who occupied second and third places, respectively, with identical 7.5 points output.
Frias brought home the juicy US $2,000 top purse and customized trophy plus gold medal.
Recently, Frias also triumphed with almost the same output after ruling the O2C Doeberl Cup majors in April at Canberra, Australia.
“I owe this to God and those who prayed for me,” said Frias over his victory in UAE.
Frias thanked Mr. and Mrs. Jobannie and Irish Tabada for his stay in UAE and his close friend and coach International Master Oliver Dimakiling for his preparations.
He also thanked Brgy 21 chairwoman Gilda Go, Sarah Borja and her son Bimboy, Gemma Claridad, National Masters Roly Tan and Rustum Tolentino, Bimboy Rivera, City Councilor Bong Lao and Brgy Nazareth chairman Maximo Rodriguez III.
It can be recalled that Frias finished only second for best top unrated in his first outing in the annual ADChess festival last year.
But, another Kagay-anon in John Vincent Cayaba who is currently enjoying a three-month stay in UAE duplicated Frias’ last year’s performance and took away US$ 700.
Cayaba finished six points after the tournament, the same output that Frias made last year.
“Graduate na gyod kita sa non-master event. Maayo among lakaw dire ni Gogong (Cayaba),” Frias later told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro via Facebook messaging.