National Master (NM) Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. emerged as the champion in the Dugout 1594 Armageddon 8 Rapid Chess Tournament last Friday, January 31, 2024 at the Dugout 1594 Restaurant E.Rodriguez, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines. In photo are, from left, IIEE National Past President Engr. Allan Anthony Alvarez, NM Romeo Alcodia (Runner-Up Place), NM Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. (Champion) and Yeoj Michael Yusef Cabaya of Dugout 1594.
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NM Bernardino, who plays for the IIEE-PSME Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, pocketed the cash prize and the medal for winning the tournament hosted by Yeoj Michael Yusef Cabaya, Adrian, Ian and supported by Bahrain based Joey Salud Cabaya, IIEE National Past President Engr. Allan Anthony Alvarez and Atty. Rodolfo Enrique “Rudy” Rivera.
NM Bernardino defeated Candidate Master Genghis Imperial (2-1), United States chess master Jose Aquino Jr. (2-0) and National Master Romeo Alcodia (2-0) in the finals.
NM Alcodia, on the other hand, beat Eduardo Campos Jr. (2-1) and International Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad (2-0) to arrange a title showdown with NM Bernardino.
Bernardino and Alcodia, both top players of the Rizal Technological University ,Barangay Malamig, Mandaluyong chess team during their College days in the mid 90’s.
Bernardino is scheduled to do a simultaneous chess exhibition on February 10, 2025 in Santo Tomas, Pangasinan hosted by Mayor Dickerson Dauz Villar.
It shall be recalled that NM Bernardino won the Single Knockout Armageddon Tournament (SiKAT) last December 6, 2024 at the Pavilion Mall, Greenfield District in Mandaluyong City.
Bernardino also settled overall 7th place in the 16th Penang Heritage City International Chess Open 2024 Chess Championship held from December 23 to 27, 2024 at the UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College (Georgetown) in Penang, Malaysia which attracted 105 players.
Bernardino is the coach and delegation head of the PH chess team who won 2 golds and 1 bronze medal in the 32nd FIDE World Senior Chess Championship which was held at the Hotel Baleira, Porto Santo Island, Portugal from Nov. 16-29, 2024.
Bernardino achieved another remarkable victory by winning first place in the 3rd Laos International Chess Open 2024 held at the 2nd floor Parkson@ Naga Mall in Vientiane, Laos from September 1 to 6, 2024.
Among those who are supporting his chess campaign here and abroad are ALC Group of Companies Chairman and CEO D. Edgard Cabangon , Mayor Luis “Jon Jon” Ferrer IV, International Billiard and Snooker Champion Marlon Manalo, National Chess Federation of the Philippines Chairman/ President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. , CEO/Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales and Mr. Jessie Villasin.
Bernardino is set to compete in the Melbourne International Open Tournament to be held on April 7-14, 2025 at the Melbourne Chess Club in Melbourne, Australia and the 2025 Sydney International Open on April 23-27, 2025 at the Novotel West HQ, Conference Rooms 5 & 6 in Sydney, Australia.-Marlon Bernardino-