Gonzales is country's newest Grandmaster

Jayson Gonzales is the country's brand new Grandmaster after getting the result he needed in the Asean Masters Chess Circuit in Tarakan, Indonesia.

Gonzales got the ultimate prize of any chessmaster by earning his third and final GM result by besting countryman Fide Master Oliver Barbosa in the ninth round by virtue of the 7/9 Fide (World Chess Federation).

"I'm very happy for this achievement," said Gonzales, a native of Ligon, Albay. "It's been a long time dream and I thank God I finally got it."

Gonzales a mainstay of the Philippine Army, thus became the country's ninth GM after Eugene Torre (1974), the late Rosendo Balinas (1976), Rogelio Antonio Jr. (1998), Bong Villamayor (2000), Nelson Mariano (2004), Mark Paragua (2005), Darwin Laylo (2007) and Wesley So (2007).

Source: http://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/docs/sporting_gold/current/jayson_gonzales.html