Haridas booked for 18th Dubai Chess Open
INTERNATIONAL Master Haridas Pascua is poised to complete his Grandmaster requirements in the 18th Dubai Open Chess Open Tournament -2015 Sheik Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup early next month.
The former University of Baguio student is hoping to recover from his setback as he enlists his participation in the international event slated April 10-20.
“Okay na sa Dubai ang next na tournament ni Haridas, next week ang flight naming,” Gilbert said through Facebook confirming the participation of the 22year-old Mangatarem, Pangas in an-born
chess wizard.
According to the older Pascua, they managed to raise enough financial aides with the support coming from the Filipino Chess Players League based in Dubai.
“Gladly natulungan ulit kami ng FCPL sa Dubai, the same group who accommodated us last year when we joined the same event,” Gilbert said.
With at least a week of preparation, the Grandmaster- elect is set to try his luck in the annual chess tournament backed and organized by the Dubai Chess & Culture Club in the United Arab Emirates.
According to Gilbert they are looking to come up with an improved preparation for the upcoming event.
“Babad sa training si Haridas this time gusto namin makabawi ng malaki sa Dubai and at the same time we still ex- pect na maraming magagaling na international players ang sasali ulit doon,” Gilbert quipped.
This will be Haridas’ second international outing for this year, after suffering a setback at the close of the 6th HD Bank Cup International Chess Open Tournament in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam this month.
Despite scoring five wins, three losses, and one draw, Haridas’ ELO rating dropped from 2,435 to 2,428 and stepped down from number 13 to number 15 ranking in the active Filipino chess players in the country.
Haridas is looking to reach the FIDE required 2,500 ELO points to formalize his GM status and hopefully become the 18th GM for the Philippines and the first Pangasinan and Baguio City based.