Mariano completes
grandmaster norm
By Marlon Bernardino
Inquirer News Service

NELSON Mariano achieved the required 6.5 points to complete his third grandmaster (GM) result in the recent Asean Masters Chess Congress in Bangkok, Thailand.

But Mariano, who has a 2416 ELO rating, will be known only as a GM-elect until he breaches the 2500 mark to formally clinch the GM title.

"It's a good development for RP chess," said Joey Antonio, one of only four Filipinos to clinch a GM title.

The others are Eugene Torre, Bong Villamayor and the late Rosendo Balinas Jr.

An enlisted member of the Philippine Army, Mariano, who will turn 30 on June 28, gained his first two results at the 1995 Singapore Pools Tournament and the 2004 Dubai Open.

Mariano's ELO is expected to soar to 2475 when Fide releases its latest ratings in July.