6th Philippine Sudoku Regional Winners

In cooperation with Philippine Star and SM Supermalls, the Mathematics Trainers Guild Philippines recently held the 6^th Philippine Sudoku Regional Eliminations at SM City Bacolod and 15 other SM malls in Cagayan de Oro, Dasmariñas in Cavite, Santa Rosa in Laguna, Baguio, Cebu, Pampanga, Iloilo, Lucena, Baliwag, Lipa in Batangas, Rosales in Pangasinan, Tarlac, Davao, Naga and Marikina.

At SM City Bacolod, Sanielle Ong of St. John’s Institute won in the Whiz Kid Category while Natalia Dy of St. John’s Institute placed second. Stefanie Tsoi of St. John’s Institute and Sean Ernet Nodado of St. Joseph School – La Salle were declared first and placers in the Wizard Category. Timothy James Tan of Trinity Christian School won in the Grandmaster Category followed by businessmen Frederick Ong and Joseph Chua as second and third placers, respectively. 

The 6th Philippine Sudoku National Finals will be held on Jan. 28, 2012 at the SM City North Edsa Annex. The Mathematics Trainers Guild (MTG) will then send the official Philippine national finals champions to the next World Sudoku Championship, BRAND’s Sudoku Challenge in Singapore and the 6th BRAND’s Sudoku Thailand International Open 2012 Princess Somsawali Cup in Bangkok.

MTG, a member of the World Puzzle Federation, has also been producing Sudoku booklets and publishing the puzzles distinctively, different from the usual standard 9x9 Sudoku puzzles being featured in local magazines and periodicals. Part of its advocacy is to introduce the number puzzle to all sudokuholics and fanatics from all over the country.

WINNNERS of the 5th Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge, led by Timothy James Tan (standing at extreme left), pose with Dan Handy of Numberworks and Words, Shielle Sorrel of Tetrapak, Armando Cudero of Techfactors Inc., SM Supermalls VP for Marketing Communications Millie Dizon and Dr. Simon Chua, president of contest organizer MTG Philippines, at the awarding ceremony at SM North Edsa Annex in Quezon City. --NONOY LACZA

Timothy James Tan, a high-school student from Trinity Christian School in Bacolod City, emerged as the Philippines’ Sudoku Grandmaster at the 5th Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge. He beat 28 other contestants, including professionals, in the Grandmaster Division and emerged as the winner.

First runner-up was Alvin Ian Chan, a student from Ateneo de Manila University, and second runner-up was Matthew Chris Chan, also from Ateneo de Manila University. Marielle Dee of Quezon City and Frederick Ong were third and fourth runners-up, respectively.

Sudoku got a further boost as SM Supermalls signed an agreement on Thursday with the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild (MTG), Philippines for the holding of the nationwide 6th Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge this year.

Simon Chua, MTG president, expressed his gratitude to SM Supermalls through Millie Dizon, vice president for marketing communications, for the company’s continued support in providing the venue in this nationwide contest to popularize Sudoku in the country.