Chernyavsky, Villanueva tied for 1st place in Thailand Big Rook Chess Festival 2023

FIDE Master Nelson Villanueva (in photo) tied at first place with FM Alexander Chernyasvasky with 6.0 points, but gave way to the Russian Fide Master who has a better tiebreaker points to claim the Big Rook Chess Festival 2023 Standard Open tournament in Bangkok, Thailand. (Contributed Photo)

 

By Marlon Bernardino

 

 

Final Standings:

(7-Round Swiss-System, Standard tournament with 90 mins plus 30 secs increment time control)

6.0 points – FM Alexander Chernyavsky (Russia), FM Nelson Villanueva (Philippines)

5.5 points – IM Oleg Badmatsyrenov (Russia), FM Austin Yang Ching Wei (Chinese-Taipei)

5.0 points – Konstantin Sek (Russia), Louie Salvador (Philippines), FM Vincent Nguyen (France), Ryan Dungca (Philippines), Ronald Nonles (Philippines)

4.5 points – FM Thanadon Kulpruethanon (Thailand), Apichit Buakird (Thailand)

 

 

MANILA – Fide Master Nelson Villanueva of the Philippines finished tied for the first-place eventual champion Russian Fide Master Alexander Chernyavsky at the conclusion of Big Rook Chess Festival 2023 Standard Open tournament held at the Thomson Hotel Huamark in Bangkok, Thailand on May 4-7, 2023.

 

The Villanueva, a native of La Carlota City, Negros Occidental defeated erstwhile solo leader and tournament top seed International Master Oleg Badmatsyrenov of Russia in the final round, to finish with 6.0 points, on six wins and a loss in seven card in the Open Section, the same output of Chernyavsky , who brought down countryman second seed Konstantin Sek also in the final assignment

 

After the tiebreaker, Chernyavsky took the title because of his superior tie break scores, while Villanueva wound up in second place.

 

“I am very happy with my victory tonight,” said Villanueva, a former Rizal Technological University Mandaluyong top player.

 

Villanueva’s performance boosted the nation’s morale, according to Bayanihan Chess Club secretary-general Fide Master Robert Suelo Jr.

 

“Once again our flag has been raised in this foreign land after knowing that our Filipino kababayan FM Nelson Villanueva finished in a tie for first place,” said 1996 Philippine Junior Champion Suelo.

 

Badmatsyrenov and Fide Master Austin Yang Ching Wei of Chinese-Taipei finished in a tie for third to fourth place with 5.5 points each followed by Sek, Louie Salvador of the Philippines, Fide Master Vincent Nguyen of France, Ryan Dungca and Ronald Nonles of the Philippines, who all finished with 5.0 points apiece.

 

Fide Master Thanadon Kulpruethanon and Apichit Buakird of Thailand were 10th to 11th places with 4.5 points each.