GRANDMASTER-elect Haridas Pascua is looking to finish off on a high note at the close of the 2nd Johor International Chess Open, December 19.
Completing his final international tournament this year, the former University of Baguio athlete is leaning towards another successful appearance in the week-long tournament hosted by the Johor Chess Association in Johor, Malaysia.
The 22-year-old International Master already tallied two victories and four draws after six rounds in the International Chess Association sanctioned event.
He is currently tied at third place after the sixth round succeeding other Filipino contenders including 2015 Battle of GM-Philippines GM Richard Bitoon who’s in rank number four and GM Oliver Dimakiling in at number six.
Haridas, with 4.0 points is tied with 12 other contenders including GM Tair Vahidov of Uzbekistan, GM Duc Hao Nguyen Vietnam, GM and Sang Cao also of Vietnam.
He managed to secure his two victories over unrated Sri Lankan C Lamehawa in round one and against Chess Master Jodi Setyaki Azarya of Indonesia in round three.
The Pangasinan-born chess wizard however scored a draw with Yang Oi Zhi of Malaysia, Indonesian IM Srinath Narayanan, GM R.R Laxman, and GM Xiangli Liu of Singapore.
Haridas is setting the phase to complete the required 2,500 ELO points of FIDE to formalize his Grandmaster status by the first quarter of 2016.
“We would really like to land in the top three after this tournament pero kung hind man at least he would end up improving his ELO ranking,” Haridas’ father Gilbert told Sun.Star Baguio.
The younger Pascua recently stopped his mishap from his recent two local tournaments last November after landing second place in the earlier Malaysian event, the 2015 Penang Chess Open held December 7-12.
“Talagang yung ELO points ang primary target namin this time until the next few months. Hopefully we can land my son’s GM status as early as the first quarter next year,” the older Pascua added.