Bancod is CJAP's player of the month

International Master Ronald Bancod was chosen by the Chess Journalists Association of the Philippines (CJAP) as its Player of the Month for August. Bancod edged fellow IM and two-time awardee Wesley So and IM Barlo Nadera for the honor, the association said in a statement Sunday. Bancod, younger brother of Tempo sports editor Rey Bancod, earned the nod of local chess writers after topping the RP Asian Indoor Games qualifying tournament held last August 1-4 in Tagaytay City. The 36-year-old campaigner from Manila, who handed So a rare setback in a local tournament, finished with eight points on five wins and six draws in the tough, 11-round tournament. Bancod also steered Team Apocalypse-Manila to the title in the 27th Merdeka Open chess team championship held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia late last month. So, who already earned the citation last March and May, was also cited by winning the gold medal in the World Youth Under-16 Olympiad held last August. 7-12 in Singapore. - GMANews.TV