2 Pinoy teeners won 3rd Brand’s Sudoku International Open competition

Two pinoy students bugs the grand champion and runner-up in the 3rd Brand’s Sudoku International Open competition in Bangkok, Thailand, beating up more than 100 contestants from over six countries

John Robert Valcos, 17, a second year information technology student at St. Mary’s College in Baliwag, Bulacan, topped the logic-based number placement contest. He took home $5,000 in cash (about P240,000) and the championship trophy, among other prizes.

Fourteen-year-old Sarah Jane Cua, second year high school student of Pangasinan Universal Institute in Dagupan City, was first runner-up. She received 60,000 Thai baht (P81,000) and the second place trophy.

“Their triumph underscored the country’s performance in international mathematics competitions,” said Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild-Philippines (MTG) and head of the Philippine delegation to the Bangkok contest.

Chua, also principal of the Zamboanga Chong Hua High School in Zamboanga City, said that Cua “trailed Valcos by a single point” in the competition.

Aside from the Philippines and host Thailand, the other sudoku contestants came from India, Bulgaria, Vietnam and Malaysia, among others.

Valcos and Cua were the runner-up and champion, respectively, in the grandmaster division of the 3rd Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge, held last January at the SM City North Edsa mall in Quezon City.

Cua is also the reigning Asia-Pacific sudoku champion after winning the Brand’s 1st Asia-Pacific Sudoku Challenge in Singapore last year. She is scheduled to represent the country in this year’s 4th World Sudoku Championships in Slovakia.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net