By Kristel Satumbaga
Woman International Master (WIM) Bernadette Galas and little-known Israelito Rilloraza produced contrasting results in the ninth and final round to emerge as the best Filipino finishers in the 2018 Asian Universities Chess Championships at the Tagaytay City Convention Center.
Galas halved the point with Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Wang Jue of China to finish fifth with 6 points on four wins, four draws and one loss.
She was actually tied with China’s Liu Manli at fourth to fifth, but settled for the lower placing after the tiebreak.
Wang eventually clinched the women’s title with 7.5 points on six wins and three draws, with compatriots WIM Qiu Mengjie and Nie Xin coming in second and third, respectively.
Making into the top 10 were Alphecca Gonzales and Kylen Joy Mordido at sixth and eighth places with 5.5 points, and Woman Fide Master Shania Mae Mendoza at 10th with 5 points.
Meanwhile, Rilloraza downed Chang Sheng Yip of Malaysia to finish at fifth with 6 points on six wins and three losses.
The Far Eastern University bet was one point behind eventual men’s champion FIDE Master Yoseph Taher of Indonesia, who finished with 7 points.
