Showing a splendid performance on the board, FIDE Master (FM) Ellan Asuela from Bacolod City ruled the Kasparov Chess Foundation Asia-Pacific (KCFAP) Absolute Challenge at the Peace Centre in Singapore.
The Negrense champion, who pocketed 2,000 Singapore dollars for the victory, shared his game plan which is to survive the rapid games and standard then secure the blitz games and Armageddon because he has the edge in speed against his opponents.
At 35, Asuela also admitted that it was a strong field considering that there were IMs from the Philippines and Indonesia. “I am thankful to the Lord for the blessings and opportunity, to my supportive fiance Carla Fernandez and to Van Lanuza and Rafal Ansay of MindMovers PH for giving me the chance to go and compete in Singapore,” said Asuela.
Asuela is the third among four children of Elmo and Maria Fe, a councilor in Bacolod City. He started playing chess at the age of four.
Meanwhile, two other Filipinos– International Master (IM) Eric Labog Jr. and FM Nelson Mariano III– placed second and sixth, respectively. Labog secured the 1400 Singaporean dollars.
Indonesian IM Irwanto Sadikin finished third followed by compatriots Fernanda Agus Saputra Pribadi (4th), Syarif Mahmud (5th) and Aris TLS (7th), Singaporean Rege Vijay, Indian Adharsh V and Indonesian Kiu Sen.
Asuela, who idolizes Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Mark Paragua and Japanese GM Hikaru Nakamura, won the 1st Lumbia Mindanao Open in Cagayan de Oro City last month. “My father and uncle taught me. I like chess because it’s complex and more on mathematics, which is my favorite subject,” shared Asuela, who also plays basketball and ping pong (table tennis).IMT Sports
