2017 Negros International Open Chess Championship

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.

Grand Master (GM) Nigel Short of England recently won the 2017 Negros International Open Chess Championship, defeating GM Srinath Narayanan of India in the final round.

“The international chess community, including our top foreign players, noted that Negros is indeed a breeding ground for top-level players,” said tournament sponsor Antonio Aguirre. “Next year, we will raise the bar.”

Filipino GM Rogelio Antonio, at one point, led the competition, along with playing Short to a draw in the fifth round. He eventually finished in fifth place, behind GM Karen Grigoryan of Armenia, GM Duc Hoa Nguyen of Vietnam, and Narayanan./JSG, WDJ