12-year old Bersamina's big win in Round 1 highlights RP campaign in 3rd Kuala Lumpur Chess Championship 2010

Three of the five Filipino campaigners in the ongoing 3rd Kuala Lumpur Chess Championship 2010 hurdled their first assignments in this tough international event which is being participated in by 111 participants from 22 nations.

IM Oliver Dimakiling (2441), FM Julius Joseph De Ramos (2314), and 12-year old Paulo Bersamina (1966) defeated their respective opponents to wave the Philippine flag at the very start of this tournament where a dozen GMs, including GM Mchedlishvili Mikheil (2634) of Georgia and the sensation GM Hou Yifan (2570) of China, four WGMs, and 18 IMs are playing.

Notably, the spotlight in Round 1 goes to RP's reigning 12-Under prince Bersamina who defeated a very tough opponent in Palit Somak (2411) of India using the Black pieces.

The more than 400-Elo point gap didn't daunt the fighting spirit of the young Bersamina - the pride of Pasay city - to beat his more experienced opponent from India. Bersamina, a runner-up in the just concluded KL Rapid Grand Prix 2010 3rd Leg Open, is pitted against another experienced, 2400-rated player in IM Tirto of Indonesia in Round 2.

On the other hand, IM Kim Steven Yap (2416) and Malaysia-based Ian Udani (2286) lost their first round matches. Udani is fresh from topping the KL Rapid Grand Prix 2010 3rd Leg Open. Remarkably, Yap bowed to WFM Mitali Madhukar Patil (1981) of India while Udani lost to Andyka Pitra, an unrated player from Indonesia.

Rank after Round 1 HERE