Panaboan wins Vietnam chess tourney

 Davao City---A 15-year-old Fide Master from Panabo City, Davao del Norte ruled the Quang Ninh GM2 tournament in Ha Long Ward, Ha Long City, Vietnam on Sunday.

In the final round, FM Christian Gian Karlo Arca, playing the black pieces, and Vietnamese Candidate Master (CM) Dau Khuong Duy settled for a draw after 67 moves of the Caro Kann Defense, advance variation.

With three victories and six draws, Arca finished the round-robin competition with 6.0 points and his second International Master (IM) norm.

In addition, he was content to settle for a draw in his matches against the following players: Singaporean IM Liu Xiangyi in Round 6, Filipino IM Michael Concio Jr. in Round 4, Filipino Grandmaster (GM) John Paul Gomez in Round 7, and Vietnamese Candidate Master (CM) Dinh Nho Kiet in Round 8.

In addition, he was content to settle for a draw in his matches against the following players: Singaporean IM Liu Xiangyi in Round 6, Filipino IM Michael Concio Jr. in Round 4, Filipino Grandmaster (GM) John Paul Gomez in Round 7, and Vietnamese Candidate Master (CM) Dinh Nho Kiet in Round 8.

He defeated the top-seeded player in the event, Vietnamese GM Tran Tuan Minh, in Round 5, Chinese IM Yiping Lou (Round 2) and Indonesian IM Azarya Jodi Setyaki (Round 3).

With 5.5 points, Kiet came in second, ahead of Minh (3.5), Concio and Dung (5.0), Gomez and Liu (4.5), Lou and Duy (4.0), and Jodi (3.0).

As of May, 1 Arca, a Dasmariñas Integrated High School student in Grade 9, will have an additional 2265 rating due to his gain of 62.8 ELO points.

A player needs to get the three norms across 27 or more games and a FIDE rating of 2400 or higher to become an IM.

A rating system called ELO determines a player's skill level.

Arca will next play in the 8th Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship in Penang, Malaysia, from July 12 to 21, and the Hanoi GM Closed Tournament, which will place from May 21 to 26.(Romeo Braceros Jr,)