FEU woodpushers dominate Malaysia chess tournament

Members of the Far Eastern University (FEU) chess team dominated the 16th Mid Valley City Malaysia Chess Challenge 2023 held over the weekend in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Most Valuable Player National Master Christian Marcelo Olaybal led the way for the Filipino players as he defeated Al Mubarok Jalaludin and Simanjuntak Morado of Indonesia in the last two rounds to finish with 8.0 points to rule the 9-round event.

The FEU chess team CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

National Master Franklin Loyd Andes, meanwhile, clinched second spot after having the highest tie-break points among the four players with 7.5 points.

Woman National Master Ruelle Canino, the youngest among the FEU delegates at 15, also scored 7.5 points and bagged third place for a 1-2-3 finish by the Tamaraws.

Woman National Master Vic Glysen Derotas and Lemmuel Jay Adena also made their mark by securing the 8th and 10th positions, respectively, in the challengers (2000-below) tournament.

Meanwhile, National Master Oscar Joseph Cantela of General Trias, Cavite won the gold medal in the Open 16-under in Rapid Age-Group Chess Championship on August 27 and a silver medal on board 1 in SMS Deen Merdeka Open Rapid Team Chess Championship on August 25-26, also in Malaysia.

FEU reserve player Arleah Cassandra Sapuan, on the other hand, topped the U-16 girls division at the Merdeka Day Age-Group Chess Tournament on August 31.

The tournaments are part of the Malaysia Chess Festival organized by the Malaysian Chess Federation that gathered 206 competing players from 12 countries including Brunei Darussalam, China, England, Indonesia, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sri Langka, and Thailand.

FEU head coach Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales expressed gratitude to the invaluable efforts of the people behind FEU's chess program led by chairman Aurelio 'Gigi' Montinola, president Juan Miguel Montinola, athletic director Mark Molina and executive director of FEU Diliman Armi Cunanan-Yabut.