OZAMIZ City — A fresh wave of optimism has opened doors for Filipino chess players as the Philippines hosts the 6th Asean Individual Open Chess Championships-Governor Henry S. Oaminal Cup.

The competition is now underway, kicking off today, Nov. 3, at the AMORAP resort in Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental, an area often referred to as the “Maldives of Mindanao.”

While young hopefuls are vying to become the country’s next Grandmaster (GM) — including International Masters (IMs) Paulo Bersamina, Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Michael Concio Jr., and Christian Gian Karlo Arca, as well as Fide Master Alekhine Nouri — one IM veteran, Rolando Nolte, is on track to clinch his elusive third and final GM norm.

Nolte came agonizingly close to the feat during the Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Tournament in December 2023 in General Santos City.

There, he defeated two GMs in a row: top-seeded Indonesian Novendra Priasmoro and Filipino compatriot Darwin Laylo.

WILLING PARTICIPANT. Uzbik GM Timur Gareyev, at left in a talk with Ozamiz chess organizer Rey Urbiztondo, reportedly registered though the first international chess event in Northern Mindanao would accommodate only Asean players. Photo by Lynde Salgados

However, Nolte’s failure to face a third GM ultimately impacted his performance average rating of 2598, falling short by just two points of the 2600 required to complete his final GM norm.

According to MPCA chief arbiter James Infiesto, the then 51-year-old Nolte needed to face three GMs to obtain the norm. The requirement went unfulfilled when a Vietnamese GM invited by the Manny Pacquiao Chess Association failed to show up due to unforeseen glitches.

“Sayang yon kinapos lang ng two points. Sana sus’wertihin tayo ngayon dito sa Ozamiz though mahirap din ang field,” Nolte said in an interview over breakfast at the AYA Hotel and Residences in nearby Clarin town, where the elite players are billeted.

Ozamiz chess organizer Rey Urbiztondo confirmed that the Governor Oaminal-backed Asean Open has more than complied with the prerequisites to be a truly international event, with more than a dozen foreign masters from across the Asean region participating.

“This is history in the making. I think the first ever in the country that a none-GM to emerge champion in this tournament will be awarded outright of the GM title, apart from the IM title, GM norm and IM norm at stake for the top finishers in men and women's divisions,” Urbiztondo said.

MISSING IN ACTION. For the first time, the 13-time Philippine Open champion GM Joey Antonio will miss the Ozamiz chess event that now goes international. Photo by Lynde Salgados

The country’s youngest GM, Daniel Quizon, and 13-time Philippine Open champion, Rogelio Antonio Jr., are expected to miss the Asean Open due to separate international events abroad.

American-Uzbekistan GM Timur Gareyev, the world's blindfold chess king and co-champion of Concio in last year's Ozamiz Open, had reportedly expressed interest in competing again.

“Pero hindi pwede dahil Asean Open ito and he’s from Uzbekistan kaya na remove siya sa pairing," IM Nolte was quoted as saying.