GM Li Chao and WGM Huang Qian of China won the Manny Pacquiao Cup Asian Continental Open and Women’s Championships, respectively, held 17-27 May 2013 at the Midas Hotel and Casino in Metro Manila, Philippines.

Li Chao finished alone with 7 points to win the champion’s trophy and top prize of $12,000. GM Oliver Barbosa of the Philippines placed second with 6.5 points followed by compatriot GM Mark Paragua in third place. Also finishing with 6.5 points were top seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam and Indian GMs Baskaran Adhiban and Krishnan Sasikiran. They all advance to the World Cup this August in Norway. Barbosa had already qualified in last year’s Asian Continental.

While other leaders coasted to draws in the last round, Adhiban defeated GM John Paul Gomez of the Philippines in 22 moves of a French defense while Sasikiran beat GM Marat Dzhumaev of Uzbekistan in 60 moves of a Sicilian defense.

The tournament was organized by the Eugene Torre Chess Foundation under the auspices of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, Asian Chess Federation and FIDE, and sponsored by eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, Cafe Puro, Alaxan, Oriental and Motolite Corp.

In the women’s division, Huang Qian tied with compatriot Tan Zhongyi with 7 points each. Huang won the tie break for the champion’s trophy and share of the top prizes of $4,000 each. Huang qualifies into the Women’s World Championship tournament next year.

Huang beat WIM Warda Aulia Medina of Indonesia while Tan kept pace by beating IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul of Mongolia. WGM Mary Ann Gomes of India crushed WIM Ni Shiqun of China to win the third place trophy.

In the Asian Continental Blitz championship, Le Quang Liem topped the same field alone with 8.5 points followed by Chinese IM Wang Yunguo with 7.5 points for second place and Indian GM Krishnan Sasikiran with 7 points for third place. The top three places in the Asian Continental Women’s Blitz were all won by Chinese WGMS. Wang Jue finished first with a perfect 9 points followed by Tan Zhongyi with 7 points and Guo Qi alone with 6.5 points.

Prizes were awarded by Manny Pacquiao Business Manager Eric Pineda and National Chess Federation of the Philippines Directors.

A FIDE Trainers Seminar was held concurrently 21-25 May 2013 at the Midas Hotel with 33 participants from the Philippines, Malaysia, Mongolia, Indonesia and Vietnam. GM/FST Efstratios Grivas, Secretary of the FIDE Trainers Commission was the Lecturer assisted by GM/FST Eugene Torre and GM/FT Jayson Gonzales.



Asian qualifiers to the World Cup and Women’s World Championship pose at the Awards Ceremony with National Chess Federation of the Philippines officials, from left: Executive Director Jayson Gonzales, Treasurer Red Dumuk, Director Rommel Tacorda, Director Tonisito Umali, Chief Arbiter Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh, NCFP Director Rep. Neri Colmenares, Baskaran Adhiban, Mark Paragua, Oliver Barbosa, Li Chao, Huang Qian, Le Quang Liem, Krishnan Sasikiran, Manny Pacquiao Business Manager Eric Pineda, GM Eugene Torre, Pastor Galileo J. Moralizon, Foundation Director Alex Marquez and Asian Chess Federation Deputy President Casto Abundo.


International field takes part in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Eugene Torre Chess Center, from left, Endar Saktri Lubis and Dirwan Sinuraya of Indonesia, Eugene Torre Chess Foundation Directors Manuel Iligan, Reginald Tee and president GM Eugene Torre, GM Efstratios Grivas (GRE) digging, GM Alexei Kuzmin (RUS), Dang Tat Thang (VIE), Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh (IRI), GM Dashzegve Sharavdorj (MGL) and Casto Abundo (PHI). The Eugene Torre Chess Center building in Cubao, Quezon City is expected to be finished next year.


Chinese WGM Wang Jue receives the woman’s blitz champion’s trophy.


GM Sharavdorj Dashzegve of Mongolia (center) receives his Certificate at the FIDE Trainers Seminar held concurrently 21-25 May 2013 at the Midas Hotel. From left are Asian Chess Federation Deputy President Casto Abundo, Asia’s first IM Roldolfo Tan Cardoso, GM/FST Efstratios Grivas, Sharavdorj, National Chess Federation of the Philippines Chairman/President Prospero A. Pichay, Jr., GM/FST Eugene Torre and GM/FT Jayson Gonzales.