IM Bitoon is biggest gainer

IM Richard Bitoon stood as the biggest Filipino gainer in the March 2010 FIDE Rating List by collecting 17.70 more Elo points, putting him back to the country's Top 10 players.

He replaced IM Julio Catalino Sadorra at No.10 spot who slid down a notch to No.11 despite earning 2.7 Elo points.

After losing huge 31.60 Elo points in November last year, Bitoon bounced back strongly in two international open events (8th Parsvanath International Open and Chennai International Open 2010) in India this January to keep his GM title campaign alive.

The country's biggest loser (Elo points) in the rating period, however, was GM Darwin Laylo who shed off 28.60 points, but still preserved his No.3 national ranking. Laylos' Aeroflot Open 2010 campaign undeniably dented on his possible 2600-mark hopes.

Notably, the country's top nine players preserved their rankings. Of the top ten players, four were gainers, one was loser, and five were unchanged.

Here are the winners and losers in the FIDE March 2010 ELo Rating list (RP's Top 10 and those with movements in the Top 100):

GM Wesley So +9.30
GM Joey Antonio
GM Darwin Laylo -28.60
IM Rogelio Barcenilla
GM John Paul Gomez
GM Eugene Torre
GM Mark Paragua
GM Joseph Sanchez +3.10
IM Roland Salvador +10.70
IM Richard Bitoon +17.70
IM Julio Catalino Sadorra +2.70
IM Oliver Dimakiling +5.50
IM Rolly Martinez +4.30
IM Ricardo De Guzman -11.30
IM Virgilio Vuelban -6.80
Joaquin Banawa +2.85
Ian Udani +7.05
Hugo Villanueva -6.0

Here is my wish list for the country's rating list:
1. More junior players - and hopefully kiddies - in the Top 10
2. More female players in the Top 100, preferably in Top 10
3. More 2600-rated players in the Top 10
4. A 2700-rated player - preferably more - in the Top 10
5. Top 20 players have GM titles (immediate target)