MANILA: Filipino FIDE Master (FM) Christian Gian Karlo Arca and International Master (IM) Michael Concio settled for a draw in the fourth round of the Quang Ninh GM2 chess tournament in Ha Long Ward, Ha Long City, Vietnam on Thursday.
Playing with white pieces, Arca split the point with Concio in 38 moves of an English Opening Symmetrical variation to improve his total to three points.
After his first-round match against Vietnam’s Grandmaster (GM) Nguyen Anh Dung ended with a draw, Arca defeated Chinese IM Yiping Lou and Indonesian IM Azarya Jodi Setyaki.
Concio, on the other hand, drew with Vietnamese Candidate Master (CM) Dau Khuong Duy and Setyaki before beating Singaporean IM Liu Xiangyi.
“It’s okay if the match ended with a draw. I’m focused on the second IM norm, that’s important,” said Arca, a gold medalist in Open Blitz, a side event of last year’s World Youth Chess Championships in Montesilvano, Italy.
He got the first IM norm during the 18th IGB Dato’ Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championshi
ps held on Aug. 28 to Sept. 3, 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
To become an IM, a player must get the three norms over 27 or more games and a FIDE rating of 2400 or more.
Both Arca and Concio are playing under the guidance of Dasmariñas City mayor Jenny Barzaga and national coach FIDE Master Roel Abelgas.
Source: Philippines News Agency
