It was at the 1st ASEAN Masters Chess Congress in Bangkok, Thailand where Grandmaster Mariano clinched his third GM norm (“GM norm” being akin to, say, the Most Valuable Player title of many other sports and is equivalent to an average rating of at least 2500).
This, after garnering 6.5 points out of 10 games against fi ve opponents—three of who are established GMs, including the Philippines’ Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor. He earned his second GM norm at the 6th Dubai Open Championships held last April 18-28 at the United Arab Emirates, accumulating 5.5 points out of nine games versus nine formidable opponents—
eight of which are GMs—from countries that included Russia, Ukraine and Armenia. He got his fi rst GM norm back in December 1995, at the Singapore Pools Tournament, playing nine games
against nine opponents from various countries—five of who are GMs, including Filipino Rogelio Antonio—and earning a total of 6.5 points. By then, he had already earned an overall,careerhigh rating of 2510.

He is the fifth Filipino to be called Grandmaster, coming after—in chronological order—Eugene Torre (the country’s and Asia’s fi rst Grandmaster), the late Rosendo Balinas, Rogelio Antonio and Bong Villamayor, all of who have either coached, inspired or competed with GM Mariano in local or foreign tourneys. And yes, “Mariano” can now be mentioned in the same breath as “Karpov,” “Kasparov” and other chess legends.

Nelson II learned chess through his father at age four. “Whereas, my uncle Henry is more of a learn-by-experience chess player, my father has put more emphasis on reading and research,” GM Mariano relates. He also fondly remembers an epiphany from when he was age seven. “I played three chess games with a carpenter, with a bet of 25 centavos per game won,” GM Mariano recalls. “After those three games, I went home. Later, the carpenter dropped by our house and gave my father 75 centavos.”

Since then, there has been no turning back for the Grandmaster-tobe. He began joining local chess tournaments at around age 9, eventually bagging his fi rst major prize at age 14 at the International Chess Open of the Manila Olympiad in 1992, where he was declared Champion—beating two GMs and ten International Masters—and earned a cool P40,000 for it.

GM Mariano opines that competitive chess has become fiercer lately, thanks in part to the Internet, through which serious players can—nay, must— read extensively about other pros and their backgrounds, favorite moves and such, as well as match wits with other, anonymous chess lovers through games online.

He is also conscious of the proper attitude when it comes to chess playing, which he learned in part from GM Villamayor. “Bong is a ‘formal’ player, never a cheater, always a good sport, win or lose,” GM Mariano divulges, adding that, “Discipline, patience and the proper overall attitude are key to being a success in chess. For me, there is no such thing as ‘wrong timing’, like when losing players say, ‘It’s not my moment yet.’ What matters is practice and perseverance.”

The UE-based Grandmaster partly credits his Dubai and Bangkok triumphs to having been able to play out—at least in some of his games there—his favorite chess opening: the one enthusiasts call the Sicilian Chameleon. “With that opening, which is to the whiteside player’s advantage, I get to carry the game,” he elaborates. “The other player’s moves become
more dependent on mine.” On another note, after his Dubai victory, he speculated, when asked by peers and reporters then, that he would earn the GM title “in one or two years”; it took a mere two months, it turned out.

Moreover, he is thankful to many supporters and sponsors who have aided him in his local and international conquests. Among many in the University to whom he is grateful, he singles
out chairman-CEO P. O. Domingo and assistant P.E. director Rolando S. Perez. “Chairman Domingo has always given his support with every tournament that I have joined,” GM Mariano enthuses, “while Sir Brenn Perez has always been like a second father to me ever since I was an SLS student.” This is partly why, all things considered, he has opted to stay with UE, despite attempts by at least two other universities to pirate him a decade ago.

GM Mariano, who is just a school year short of earning a Management degree from CBA Manila, will most likely return to the classroom next semester. “I vowed to resume tertiary studies once I clinched the Grandmaster title,” he states. In the meantime, he will see action overseas anew at the Abu Dhabi Open in August, as well as in whatever tournament he can take part. He will likewise continue military service (his rank as of this writing: Corporal), representing the AFP in his every conquest as he has done for seven years now. And the kudos will most likely keep fl owing, starting with having been feted by the Philippine Chess Society last July 1 and UE’s own testimonial dinner in his honor at the Century Park Hotel last July 16.

And, just as his father and other mentors along the way have kept him on the path to GM glory, he continues to mold future chess masters by coaching-training with head coach Henry Mariano—the UE Woodpushers, as well as other young aspirants who need guidance. “Filipinos have what it takes to be a Grandmaster,” GM Mariano postulates. “The strengths of a Pinoy
International Master, for example, is comparable to that of a Grandmaster. Malakas tayo, but we need as much support as we can get.”

He also wishes to impart this inspiring message: “It is never too late to become what you might be. Life stops only when you are dead. Opportunities live on. For as long as there is life, there is hope!” (Reprinted from UE Today, July 2004)