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June 18, 2010 MANILA — Grandmaster Mark Callano Paragua continues winning abroad by beating American International Master (IM)-elect Jake Kleiman in the fourth and final round to rule the Original 4 rated Games Tonight last June 10 at the Chess Center of famous Marshall Chess Club in New York.
The 2003 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games most bemedalled athlete Paragua, who beat Cyril Sigamoney, Yaron Grivili and Oliver Chernin in the first three rounds, finished unbeaten with four points in the 42 player’s field, four round- Swiss event.
It was Paragua’s 12th straight title in the US following his triumphs in the New York June Action Grand Prix (June 5), 10 Grand Prix Points Tonight (June 3), New York May Open (May 29 to 30), Original 4 rated Games Tonight (May 27), Prove Your Point (May 22), May Marshall Masters (May 18), Marshall Sunday Action (May 9), Marshall Chess Challenge, Saturday Game 60 (May 5), Marshall Chess Challenge April Grand Prix (April 24 to 25), Original 4 rated Games Tonight ( April 15), and Original 4 rated Games Tonight (April 8).
The victorious Filipino GM is currently preparing for the 38th Annual World Open Chess Championships slated on June 29 to July 5 at the Valley Forge Convention Center Scanticon and Radisson Hotel in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The US event offers a projected prize fund of US$ 250,000, with a US$ 175,000 minimum guaranteed purse in the weeklong event.
Meanwhile, another Filipino entry here at the Original 4 rated Games Tonight International Master (IM) Renato Naranja lost to American IM Jay Bonin in the final round and was stuck at 2.5 points, and dropped into a tie four ninth to 13th placers.
Paragua’s US stint is being supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president and chairman Prospero Pichay, Jr., in close cooperation with Filway Marketings Inc. chief executive officer and president Hector “Chito” Tagaysay, and New York Immigration lawyer Geronimo “Gerry’ Albano.