NEW YORK CITY -- To prove that his 2013 victory in the same section in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was not a fluke, Filipino-American chess guru David Asuncion Apelo captured the 48th Annual Atlantic Open Under-2100 title held from August 26-28, 2016 in Arlington, Virginia.
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| APELO: "The future of Filipino chess players is here in the United States, not in the Philippines." |
The 58-year-old former Army in the Philippines romped off with the $2,000 top prize by submitting 4.5 in a 5-round Swiss System held at the Hilton Crystal City Hotel.
He also collected another $1,000 by winning the mixed doubles team title together with Grace Calapati by scoring 8 points.
Apelo, described by fellow Queens-based chess player Gilbert Gonzales as "strike anywhere", won $1,185 when he ruled the 45th Liberty Bell Open Under-2100 chess tournament held from Jan. 18 to 21, 2013 at the Sonesta Hotel in Philadelphia.
He scored six points in seven rounds.
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"Apelo is one of the most feared Fil-Am chess players in the East Coast and is very well-known in every chess park in New York," said Gonzales of Silay City, Philippines.
Camelo "Jun" Galinea, the godfather of Elmhurst Park chess, said Apelo is an old timer and is respected in the New York chess community.
Apelo, who tots a United States Chess Federation (USCF) rating of 2085, said he will skip the "expensive" Millionaire Chess Open at the Harrah’s Resort, Atlantic City on October 6 - 10, 2016.
"I can't afford," he stressed, estimating that a player has to spend at least $1,000 to cover his registration, transportation, food, and hotel accommodation.
Apelo said he will continue to play in other major tournaments in the US. He teaches chess in different schools and acts as coach for students and unrated players.
Apelo said some of the best chess players in the Philippines are now playing in the US "because the future is here, not there."
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