US-basedFilipino Jasper Rom emerged as champion in the Open section of the recently concluded Kasparov 15th Anniversary Rapid 2017 last October 31, 2017 in Singapore.
Rom halved the point with countryman and Singapore-based Pinoy Jomel Ortiz in the last round to finish undefeated with five points on four wins and two draws in the six-round, 10 minutes tournament.
Rom, originally from Cebu but is now based in Maryland, is a certified United States Chess Federation (USCF) Master. He beat Samuel Ho in the first round then split the point with Ethan Poh Xuan Rui in the second. He defeated Richard Lean Boon Cheng, Joel Ong Yi Herng and Kenneth Tan in the following rounds, respectively, before drawing with Ortiz.
Ortiz, an active member of the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) in Singapore finished, in a tie for second with fellow 4.5 pointer Kenneth Tan but loss via tie-break points. Ortiz finished in third place.
No less than former world chess champion Gary Kasparov, tournament director Ignatius Leong, International Arbiters Osric Mooi and Lincoln Yap of Cebu led the closing rites.
Rom is fresh from a runner-up finish in the Internet Chess Club (ICC) and United States Chess Federation (USCF) Online Blitz Rapid Tournament in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, USA last October 23, 2017.