FM Nguyen Anh Khoi and WGM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung win JAPFA 3rd ASEAN Championships 2015
It proved to be a most dramatic last round in the Open category of the JAPFA 3rd ASEAN Championships 2015.
Leader IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia had a half point lead and was paired
with fellow countryman IM Paola Bersamina and despite their team leader
and coach GM Jayson’s Gonzales assurance they would play the game
fairly, most participants still saw the result as a forgone conclusion.
Garcia and Bersamina however drew their game, a result while opened
the door for 13-year old FM Nguyen And Khoi and his coach, veteran GM
Dao Thien Hai.
It was no surprise for Dao to win, even with the black pieces,
against a determined by relatively inexperienced Yoseph Theofilus Taher
who was not only the only untitled player but also the lowest rated.
But in a shock upset, Anh Khoi defeated GM Susanto Megaranto who till then had made 10 successive draws!
So three players tied for first place with 7/11 and after tie-breaks,
it was Anh Khoi first, Dao second and Garcia third. In fourth, one
point behind, also on tie-break over Bersamina was 16 year old Yeoh Li
Tan who despite battled serious illness in the last few days came
through with his first IM norm.
Despite his loss to Dao, Yoseph too was a happy young player as he also made an IM norm.
A little question mark as per the regulations did not spoilt the day
for Anh Khoi who also made his first IM norm as normally he would be
awarded the IM title outright together with a 9 game GM norm but this
matter is now for the organisers, Vietnam Chess Federation and FIDE to
clarify.
In the Women’s category, WGM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung on 8.5/10 held a one
point lead going into the last round and only needed a draw.
On her offer, WCM Nur Nabila Azman Hisham was more than happy to
accept and than meant WIM Janelle Mae Frayna has nothing to play for
either but to keep second place a point behind with 8/11 while WFM
Shania Mae Mendoza took third place with her final WIM norm and the
title with 7.5/11.
The closing ceremony again saw GM Utut Adianto as the guest of honour.
News and photos by Peter Long
Source link: http://www.chessdom.com/fm-nguyen-anh-khoi-and-wgm-nguyen-thi-mai-hung-win-japfa-3rd-asean-championships-2015/
