FIDE Master (FM) Ivan Travis Cu emerged as the champion in the Open Division of the Chess Mind Grandprix May Edition Tournament last Saturday, May 31, 2025 at the Robinsons Galleria, Quezon City, Philippines.
In photo, Chessmind Academy Administrator Maria Noemi Ballecer awards the top prize to FM Ivan Travis Cu assisted by Chessmind Academy Head Coach Joseph Ballecer.
FM Cu, incoming grade 11 of Xavier School in San Juan City, pocketed the P7,000 purse and the trophy for winning the tournament which saw over 50 players participate.
He had a near-perfect campaign after tallying 6.5 points in the seven-round Swiss system competition.
FM Cu defeated Clarence Ong, Jarhed Reignfeild Diocares and National Master (NM) Arman Subaste in the first and third rounds, respectively.
He snapped his third-match winning streak when he had a draw against International Master (IM) Hamed Nouri in the fourth round.
However, FM Cu went on to win the last three rounds against Ritchie Jocson, Sherwin Tiu and Cyrus Luis Mahawan.
The 16-year-old soft-spoken FM Cu is playing under the guidance of Xavier School Coach IA Rolly Yutuc and International Master (IM) Jan Emmanuel Garcia.
FIDE Master (FM) Alekhine Nouri defeated his father IM Hamed Nouri in the last round to finish second overall with 6.0 points for P5,000 runner-up purse.
Tiu, IM Hamed and FIDE Master (FM) Adrian Ros Pacis finished the tournament with similar 5.5 points while Mahawan, Genesis Jahk Andres, Mark Anthony Danao, Abraham Bayron and Caleb Jan Piamonte have identical 5.0 points.
The Chess Mind Grandprix May Edition Tournament (rapid event) was organized by FIDE Master (FM) Dino Ballecer and officiated by NA Alexander Dinoy, NA Alfredo Chay and NA Christian Javier.-Marlon Bernardino-