Dandel Fernandez shares top honors in Fischer Random Chess-Sharjah

NOVELTY Chess Club Board of Director Dandel Fernandez of the Philippines defeated Grandmaster (GM) Monika Socko of Poland to finish in a three-way tie for first place with eventual champion Grandmaster Bartosz Socko of Poland and International Master (IM) Mokliss El Adnani of Morocco at the conclusion of the Fischer Random Chess-Sharjah on Friday at the Sharjah Chess Club in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The triumvirate tallied 6.0 points each after seven rounds of play. Bartosz, however, took the title in the 10 minutes plus five seconds increment time control format after a superior quotient of 31.5 points from Mokliss 31.0 and Dandel 27.5.

International Master Oliver Dimakiling of the Philippines led the huge group of 5.5 pointers that includes International Master Olga Zimina of Italy, Woman International Master (WIM) Oliwia Kiolbasa of Poland, Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Josefine Heinemann of Germany, Woman International Master Dinara Dordzhieva of Russia and Woman Grandmaster Nguyen Thi Mai Hung of Vietnam.

It shall be recalled that Dandel, a Maynilad Water Employee and 2019 Executive Grand Prix Overall top-notcher seized the second spot with 8.0 points, half point behind with eventual champion Candidate Master (CM) Duane Rowe of Jamaica (8.5 points) in the 8th Abu Dhabi Classic Chess Tournament-FIDE rated held in Abu Dhabi Chess and Culture Club in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates last Jan. 4. — Marlon Bernardino