Pinoy power in Vietnam

(Photo courtesy of Mr. GILBERT PASCUA. From left, back row: GM Roland Salvador, GM Darwin Laylo, IM Richard Bitoon, GM JP Gomez, IM Kim Steven Yap, Laguna Chess Association President Ernie Gonzales, Emmanuel Senador, Calamba chess supporter Vic Gaspar, IM Oliver Dimakiling; front row, from left: Rodolfo Panopio, Merben Roque, IM Oliver Dimakiling, and FM Haridas Pascua)

There were seven occasions when a Pinoy was paired with a fellow Pinoy in the just concluded 1st HDBank Cup Open in Vietnam. Five of those clashes ended decisively - a good development in Philippine chess in the arena of international competitions.

Let's see how the Pinoy combatants butchered each other over the board in Vietnam:

Round 1: IM Oliver Dimakiling beat Rodolfo Panopio
Round 2: GM Darwin Laylo beat FM Haridas Pascua
Round 3: GM Dawin Laylo drew with IM Oliver Dimakiling
Round 6: GM Darwin Laylo drew with IM Richard Bitoon
Round 7: Merben Roque beat FM Haridas Pascua
Round 9: IM Kim Steven Yap beat Merben Roque
Round 9: Rodolfo Panopio beat Emmanuel Senador

By killing each other over the board, the Pinoys bring out the best from each other - a process that leads to a continuous leveling up of each player's strength.

By defeating each other, both players from opposite sides of the board, in essence, win by stepping up to a higher level of skills and experience.

From where I stand, seeing a Pinoy doing his best to defeat a fellow Pinoy especially in international competitions is a victory for Philippine chess.

Isn't it the real beauty of game for the combatants to reach for and unleash their full potentials?

And isn't it the purest joy of chess to watch a game made in perfection out of the ever-awesome human imagination?