A Filipino chess veteran walked away with silver from the seniors division of one of the Middle East’s biggest annual chess gatherings, closing out his campaign with a win when it mattered most.
National Master Dandel Fernandez finished second in the Seniors Chess Tournament of the 32nd Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival, held in the UAE capital on August 18, 2026. The seven-round blitz event was decided on tie-breaks, with Fernandez edging Grandmaster Alexei Barsov of Uzbekistan for the runner-up spot after both men closed level on 5.5 points. Barsov, who matched Fernandez’s record of five wins, one draw and one loss, was pushed down to third.
Fernandez, also a certified online Arena Grandmaster, opened at full pace. He reeled off four consecutive wins to start, taking down Arena FIDE Master Joey Cabaya of the Philippines, India’s Krishna Salim, Hungary’s Laszlo Kovari and Barsov himself before the tie-break clash that would later separate them. His run was checked in the fifth round, where he split the point with the eventual champion.
That champion was Grandmaster Vladimir Akopian of the United States, who topped the field with 6.0 points. The draw against Akopian in round five proved to be the only blemish on Fernandez’s board until the sixth, when International Master Ilgar Bajaranj of Azerbaijan handed him his lone defeat.
Needing a result in the closing round to reach the podium, Fernandez responded by beating Hassan Suliman Hamza of Sudan, a win that locked up his placing in the standings.
Filipino success at the festival was not confined to the seniors board. In the Family Team event, the Olandag squad claimed third place on the strength of Eric Olandag and his daughters Meghan and Marthina.
