How well does Efren play chess?

Is chess popular in the Phillipines? How much does Efren play it? Seems like he must play quite a bit to be that strong.

Nostroke, I can totally understand doing the same thing over and over to beat a machine. I've done it myself a few times. The drive to win is just so strong, who cares if you learn anything?!
 
To be sure, my friend Ken Lopez offered to gamble with Efren at chess after a few friendly games. Efren, not Ken declined the bet. Ken is about 2200 in the USCF ratings. Thus, if Efren would have agreed to gamble he would have been toast.

I think Ken is still rated, but I need to check. I know he quit playing some time back. Nonetheless, he is still a very strong chess player
 
arsenius said:
Is chess popular in the Phillipines? How much does Efren play it? Seems like he must play quite a bit to be that strong.

Nostroke, I can totally understand doing the same thing over and over to beat a machine. I've done it myself a few times. The drive to win is just so strong, who cares if you learn anything?!



It used to be one of the favorite pastimes back then besides pool, but I haven't been there for 5 years now, so who
knows? I use to play chess with Efren every single day for lunch or midnight snack, and I usually win 7 out of 10 times.

FWIW, the youngest grandmaster today is a Filipino, 14 years old with an ELO of 2610, how strong is that?
 
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