Chinese GM Wei Yi, 19, won the open tournament while WGM Padmini Rout of India, 24, won the women’s division in the Asian Continental Chess Championship for the 2nd Manny Pacquiao Cup organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines on behalf of FIDE and the Asian Chess Federation 9 to 19 December 2018 In Makati City, Philippines.

Wei finished with 6.5 points out of 9 rounds in a tie with GM Amin Tabatabaei of Iran and GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam. The Chinese prodigy prevailed in the tie break by virtue of a higher average rating of opponents.

Among the top five qualifying to the World Cup are GMs Wei Yi, Amin Tabatabaei of Iran, Le Quang Liem and Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam and Surya Shekhar Ganguly of India. Padmini qualifies to the Women’s World Championship.

Wei beat three GMs on his way to the crown, namely John Paul Gomez of the Philippines, Alireza Firouzia of Iran and Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan. He drew with compatriot IM Xu Yi and GMs Ni Hua, Le Quang Liem,, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and Amin Tabatabaei.

Ganguly and Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son had the highest tie break score in an eight way tie with 6 points together with Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran, Babu Lalith, S.P. Sethuraman, B Adhiban and Santosh Bujrathi Vidit of India.

In the women’s division, WGM Gong Quanyun finished second place in a tie with Padmini at 7 points but Padmini had beaten her in the 6th round. IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam scored 6.5 points for third place.

FIDE Chief Operating Officer Willy Icilicki attended the closing ceremonies and awarded a total of $53,000 in cash prizes for the open and women’s championships. The Organizing Committee, with tournament director GM Jayson Gonzales, added a surprise prize fund of $5,000 for the blitz championship as a Christmas gift to the players, he said.

GM Alireza Firouzia of Iran won the Asian Continental Blitz Championship alone with 7.5 points after 9 rounds. Tabatabaei finished second with 7 points followed by six players in a tie with 6.5 points each, namely GMs Santos Gujrathi Vidit and S.P. Sethuraman of India, Tran Tuan Minh, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and Le Quang Liem of Vietnam and Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan.

WGM Wang Jue of China won the women’s blitz also alone with 7.5 points followed by WGM Hoang Thi Bao Tram of Vietnam in second with 7 points. Five players tied for third, namely IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen and WGM Vo Thi Kim Phung of Vietnam, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna and WIM Catherine Secopito of the Philpippines and untitled Zhang Xiao of China.

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The top five men qualified to the World Cup. From left are GM Eugene Torre representing Manny Pacquiao, Asian Chess Federation Executive Director Casto Abundo, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and Le Quang Liem of Vietnam, Wei Yi, Amin Tabatabaei of Iran Surya Shekhar Ganguly of India and National Chess Federation of the Philippines Director Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe.



Awards for the top three women. From left are FIDE C.O.O. Willy Iclicki, GM Eugene Torre, third placer IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam, champion Padmini Rout of India, runner-up WGM Gong Quanyun, of China and NCFP Directors Martin Gaticales and Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orge.



FIDE C.O.O. Willy Iclicki addressing the closing ceremony. Others are, from left, Torre, Abundo, NCFP Executive Director Red Dumuk and Deputy Chief Arbiter Husan Turdialiev of Uzbekistan.



Champion GM Wei Yi of China receiving the Manny Pacquiao Cup from GM Eugene Torre and FIDE C.O.O. Willy Iclicki.



Women’s champion IM Padmini Rout of India receiving the Manny Pacquiao Cup from GM Eugene Torre and FIDE C.O.O. Wily Iclicki.