As I write this column, former Filipino now American chess player Wesley So is leading the Grand Chess Tour, a series of tournaments featuring 10 of the world’s highest-rank players. So, who is expected to win his second rapid chess title, had a combined score of 18 points going into the last nine games. I met Wesely when he was just 12 years old and just starting to carve his name in Philippine chess. Too bad he opted to migrate to the States where chess tournaments abound. Another brilliant chess player who went to the US is Cebuano GM Econg Sevillano. Now back to Leuven, Belgium where the action is. Russian GM Sergei Kariakin and Levon Aronian of Armenia are breathing on So’s neck as they occupy second and third places, respectively. Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen and world fourth-ranked Ding Liren of China are absent in this tournament. Liren is still recuperating from a hip injury. American Fabiano Caruana is challenging Carlsen for the World Chess championship in November. “Sayang si So”, he is now flying the American flag.
Ironmen
Congratulations to my good friend lawyer Ramsey Quijano, Philip Duenas, Alexandra Ganzon, Kim Atienza and Joyet Jopson for completing the full Ironman Triathlon in Subic, Zambales just recently. Triathlon in Cebu is currently really making waves. In 1997, I was the assistant race director of the first International Triathlon, TIMEX, which drew only about 200 participants but had a strong field that include former world champion Jackie Gallager, Cameron Brown and the iconic Scott Molina. Since I directed the first triathlon in Cebu, I’m also an Ironman. Yes I’m ironing the clothes of my wife “para di ko masambunotan.”
Did you know?
Dr. Renee Richards is unique. She has competed in the US Open Tennis Championships as both a woman and a man (as Richard Ruskine after sex change.