Christian Gian Karlo Arca (Contributed photo)
MANILA – The Philippines won its first medal in the Eastern Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championships, courtesy of a bronze from Christian Gian Karlo Arca in the Open rapid category in Karawaci-Tangerang, Indonesia on Thursday night.
The 15-year-old FIDE Master from Panabo, Davao del Norte defeated International Master (IM) Prin Laohawirapap of Thailand in the ninth and final round at Gunadarma University.
Arca, a Grade 9 student from Dasmariñas Integrated High School, finished tied for third with Paohawirapap with 7.0 points but got the bronze via the winner-over-the-other rule.
After defeating Arena FM Alessandro Alfaridzi Amir of Indonesia in the first round, Arca bowed to Indonesians Rafa Firjatullah (2nd) and Claudio Vargues Vasco Lasama (3rd).
The Filipino regained his poise to prevail over Indonesians Christopher Elvan Liaw, Christian Lumunon, Uriel Noah Oloan Sidabutar and FIDE Master (FM) Nayaka Budhidharma, and Mongolian Munkhdalai Amilal.
FM Dinh Nho Kiet of Vietnam won while FM Satria Duta Cahaya of Indonesia settled for silver. They garnered 7.5 points each.
Arca will also compete in the Standard category as he continues his quest for a third norm to become an IM. He earned the second norm after dominating the Grandmaster tournament in Vietnam in May.
In the Girls’ Rapid category, Mhage Sebastian finished fourth to seventh with six points, a full point behind eventual winner Shafira Devi Herfesa of Indonesia.
Herfesa and compatriots, WIM Laysa Latifah and WFM Samantha Edithso, all finished with seven points each but Herfesa won the tiebreaker.
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