MANILA – Filipino FIDE Master Nelson Villanueva bagged the overall championship in the SMK Kota Marudu Chess Open International Rapid 2018 in Kota Marudo, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
A native of La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, Villanueva finished the competition with 8 points in nine matches. He received RM (Malaysian Ringgit) 1,000 champions’ purse plus trophy.
“God is so gracious for the third time,” Villanueva, who previously played for the Rizal Technological University in Mandaluyong City, said of the recent victory.
Villanueva has defeated Diris Mercy Lexy of Malaysia in the first round, Abdul Rasad Mohammad Paijal of Malaysia in the second round, Etong Abdullah of Malaysia in the third round, Abu Bakar Abdul Wahab of Malaysia in the fourth round, Goridau Guadisof Malaysia in the fifth round, Hadani Abthar of Malaysia in the sixth round, Wising Abdul Sahim of Malaysia in the seventh round, and Al Murishi Muhd Saifullah of Malaysia in the ninth round.
Villanueva’s lone loss was in the eighth round, against Malaysian Andin Faizal.
It was his fourth overall championship title since late February after emerging as overall winner in the KLK Batu Gajah (Open) 2018 International Chess Championship on March 4 in Batu Gajah, Perak, Malaysia.
Villanueva also won the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly International Chess Competition 2018 in Sarawak, Malaysia on March 3 and Mesamall Chinese New Year Open chess tournament on Feb. 24 in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia./PN
