Titles, GM norms at stake in Asean

DIRECT Grandmaster, International Master, WGM and WIM titles and norms will be at stake when the Philippines host three strong international tournaments next month starting with the 7th Asean+ Individual Chess Championships set Nov. 2 to 10 at the Amorap in Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental. The open and women’s champions of the Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal, Sr.-financed and Asean Chess Confederation-sanctioned meet will clinch the GM and WGM crowns while the runners up of both sections earn IM and WIM titleist, which will still be subject to applicable FIDE title regulations and tournament requirements. A slew of Filipinos IMs headed by Jem Garcia, Pau Bersamina, Michael Concio Jr., MJ Bacojo and Christian Gian Karlo Arca are chasing glory of becoming the country’s newest GM since Daniel Quizon became a full-pledged GM in the Budapest Olympiad two years ago. Chasing the WGM crown are Filipinas and Olympiad veterans Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Shania Mae Mendoza and Ruelle Canino, who are expected to be tested in the field that will be led by WGMs Nguyen Thi Mai Hung and Hoang Thi Bao Tram of Vietnam, WGM Altan-Ulzii Enkhtuul of Mongolia, and Filipina WGM Janelle Mae Frayna. The National Chess Federation of the Philippines also announced that the...