Sunday, October 18, 2009
Loyola rules Abu Dhabi Ramadan Active Chess Open
Loyola (right) with Ladies champion GM Maia Chiburdanidzeand Masters division champion GM Hrair Simonian.
FCPL's Rolenson Loyola shared the limelight with Georgian legend GM Maia Chiburdanidze during the Ramadan Active Chess Festival in Abu Dhabi last August. Loyola led a one-two finish by the Filipinos in the Open division after he scored eight points in nine rounds to emerge champion.
Chiburdanidze, who ruled as World Woman Champion from 1978-1991, took the championship in the Ladies division, while Armenian GM Hrair Simonian ruled the Masters division.
National Master Robert Arellano was second after prevailing by half a point in the tiebreak score over the UAE's FM Khouri Ahmed Abbas, who wound up third. Arellano and Abbas finished with 7.5 points apiece.
Another Filipino, Armando Nachor of the Abu Dhabi-based Filipino chess group ADFORCE, finished joint fourth with three others each toting seven points. FCPL's Marvin Marcos settled for solo seventh place with 6.5 points.
The championship win was worth 8,000 Dirhams (around P104,000) for Loyola, Arellano received 5,000 Dirhams (around P65,000), Nachor 2,500 Dirhams (around P32,500) and Marcos 1,500 Dirhams (around P19,500).
It was also a well-deserved payoff for Loyola, Arellano and Marcos, who are all based in Dubai, as they had to travel nearly four hours every day from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and back during the four-day tournament. Games were held at night starting at 10 in observace of the Ramadan. The three hitched a ride with another FCPL player, Carlos de Guzman, who also competed in the event.
Open division standings (click on image to enlarge)
(Click here for complete standings)
(Click here for Masters standings)
(Click here for Ladies standings)
Labels: Abu Dhabi Ramadan Active Chess Loyola Arellano Marcos de Guzman Simonian Chiburdanidze
