Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia—National Master Gerald Ferriol of the Philippines ended with a bang as he finished second overall in the 4th Mini Penang Chess Open 2024 held recently at the St. Xavier’s Institution in Penang, Malaysia.
Ferriol scored crucial win and draw in the last two rounds to wrap up his campaign with 6.5 points on five wins, three draws, and one loss, the same output of eventual 3rd placer Jamison Edrich Kao of Hongkong and 4th placer Arena International Master Chee Sian Sebastien Chua of Malaysia.
He beat compatriot and eight-time Illinois, US champion International Master Angelo Abundo Young in the 8th round, then drew with Chua in the ninth and final round.
“I just tried to play my best and now I am really happy,” said Ferriol, a chess instructor in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
FIDE Master Yu Tian Poh of Malaysia defeated Maximiliano Marrhuimawan of Indonesia in the last round to finish undefeated with a perfect 9.0 points in the FIDE week-long standard tournament, organized by Atty. See Swee Sie and Madam InHooi Teh of Penang Chess Association.
The 15-year-old Poh pocketed 2,500 Malaysian Ringgit; Ferriol earned 1,500 Malaysian Ringgit; Kao got 1,000 Malaysian Ringgit while Chua received 900 Malaysian Ringgit.
Marrhuimawan won 800 Malaysian Ringgit for finishing fifth with superior quotient in the group of 6.0 pointers that included FIDE Master Chuin Hoong Ronnie Lim of Malaysia, Looi Xin Hao of Malaysia, Simanihuruk Nathanael Dieudonne B of Indonesia and Feng Wei Ferris Lim of Malaysia.
Young won the top veteran award while WCM Jia-Tien Chua of Malaysia took top lady award. MB