Bangkok: Filipino International Master Paulo Bersamina defeated Ukrainian Grandmaster Vitaliy Bernadskiy in the final round to finish second in the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open at Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel in Thailand on Monday. Bersamina triumphed in 67 moves of the Sicilian Defense to garner 7.5 points.
According to Philippines News Agency, Bersamina expressed his happiness over his runner-up finish and also topped the Makruk or Thai chess category. Meanwhile, GM Evgeny Romanov of North Macedonia led the tournament, defeating Malaysian FIDE Master Ern Jie Anderson Ang in 38 moves of the Catalan Opening to register 8.0 points.
Filipino IM Michael Concio Jr. achieved a draw with Indian GM Babu MR Lalit in 43 moves of the Queen's Pawn Game, finishing with 6.5 points and tying for third place with Lalit, Ang, Indian GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly, and British GM Nigel Short.
Filipino Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca, who earned his third IM norm on Sunday, faced a loss to Short. Arca expressed a desire to win against Grandmaster Nigel Short to obtain his first GM norm but was satisfied with securing his third and final IM norm. With a current ELO rating of 2250, he aims to reach 2400 to secure an IM title.
The 16-year-old from Panabo City, Davao del Norte, achieved his first IM norm two years ago at the 18th IGB Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and won the Quang Ninh GM2 chess tournament in Ha Long City, Vietnam, on May 19, 2024, to earn the second norm.
