Marc Kevin Labog of the Philippines emerged victorious at the Spring Blitz Tournament held April 2, 2025 at the Chess Lab Al Quoz in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In photo, Deputy Chief Arbiter NA/FM Rustum Tolentino awards the prize to Labog.
Labog, who hails from Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, scored 7.5 points out of 9 to clinch the first-place trophy plus 1,000 AED for his efforts in the 3 mins plus 2 seconds increment time control format. A total of 57 participants from 19 countries competed in the Swiss System tournament. Visit chess-results.com.
The former Adamson University chess team mainstay, Labog defeated Palaniappan Niranjjan of India in the first round, AIM Sudheer Sampreet of India in the second round, Srivastava Kavyansh of India in the fourth round, Jason Nabatlao of the Philippines in the fifth round, CM Safarullakhan Safin of India in the sixth round, GM Alexander Zubarev of Ukraine in the seventh round and IM Richilieu Salcedo III of the Philippines in the ninth and final round.
He lost to FM Sargis Manukyan of Armenia in the third round. He split the point with AGM Dandel Fernandez of the Philippines in the eight round.
Labog also finished third overall during the Spring FM Rating Tournament-Group A (Standard time control format) held March 29 to April 2, 2025.
Marc Kevin Labog, a chess prodigy from Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines (left) versus IM Sergey Smolin of Ukraine. Labog defeated IM Smolin in the sixth round of the Spring FM Rating Tournament-Group A (Standard time control format) held March 29 to April 2, 2025.