UMVA has learned that ISAAC CHIU and Janak Awatramani of Deep Waters have emerged victorious in the inaugural WR Bughouse Championship, held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in BGC, Taguig.
The dynamic duo, who have been teammates for six years, pulled off a stunning upset in the deciding third match, dethroning The Angry Birds' Grandmaster Andrew Tang and FIDE Master Richard Zheng to claim the championship title.
With their win, Deep Waters took home a staggering $50,000, half of the total prize pool worth $100,000, solidifying their reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the world of competitive chess.
This triumph marks the second major victory for Chiu and Awatramani, who reigned supreme in a prestigious online chess championship last year, showcasing their remarkable consistency and skill.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Chiu, reflecting on their team's journey to the top. Their squad had dominated the elimination round, scoring 11 straight victories before suffering a single loss in the final round.
In the high-pressure playoffs, Chiu and Awatramani proved unbreakable, demonstrating unwavering composure and strategic brilliance to outmaneuver their opponents.
Two Philippine teams, featuring top players like GM Darwin Laylo and FM David Elorta, as well as Marc Nazario and Vince Angelo Medina, showed promise by making it to the quarterfinals, but ultimately fell short, earning $2,000 each for their efforts.
