COURTESY CALL. Members of the Philippine team that took part in the World Youth Chess Championships pay a courtesy call on National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) chairman and president Rep. Prospero Arreza Pichay Jr. (4th from right) in his Makati office in this undated photo. Second from right is Christian Gian Karlo Arca, who won the gold medal in the Open Blitz, a side event of the World Youth Chess Championships held in Montesilvano, Italy on Nov. 12-24, 2023. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Coming off a successful campaign in the World Youth Chess Championships last week, Fide Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca will continue his quest for an International Master (IM) norm in the upcoming Eastern Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championships in Malaysia.
Arca, together with International Masters Michael Concio Jr. and Daniel Quizon, will leave on Thursday for the Dec. 1-9 tournament at the Sabah Oriental Hotel in Kota Kinabalu.
The three players are members of the Dasmariñas Chess Academy under Mayor Jenny Barzaga and Congressman Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga Jr. and national coach FIDE Master Roel Abelgas.
Arca won the gold medal in the Open Blitz, a side event of the World Youth Chess Championships held in Montesilvano, Italy from Nov. 12 to 24.
He finished with 8.5 points while compatriot, FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo, placed third with 7.5 points behind Armenian FM Benik Agasarov who was second with eight points.
Bacojo also secured his second IM norm in the Standard event.
"I am happy with my latest achievement. I will work even harder to get the International Master title. I will not waste the support given by my family and my sponsors who trust in my ability," the 14-year-old student of Dasmariñas Integrated High School in Cavite said in an interview on Wednesday.
To get an IM title, a player must achieve three required title norms over 27 or more games and a FIDE rating of 2400 or more.
Arca already has one norm he acquired in the 18th IGB Dato' Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championships, a nine-round tournament held at the Midvalley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from Aug. 28 to Sept. 3. (PNA)
