2 Pinoy teens win in Beijing Sudoku tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Two Filipino students won first and second places in the under-18 category of the Kejia Pengcheng Cup Beijing International Sudoku Tournament in Beijing, China over the weekend.

Sarah Jane Cua, 16, the country’s former sudoku “grandmaster,” won first place, while Timothy James Tan, 14, the reigning sudoku grandmaster, won second place in the tournament held from May 19-22.

Cua won US$500 and a trophy while Tan received $400 and a certificate. Third place went to Luo Tianyi of China, who received $300 and a certificate.

Cua is an incoming Management Engineering freshman at Ateneo de Manila University while Tan is an incoming third year high school student at Trinity Christian School in Bacolod City.

Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild Philippines (MTG), headed the Philippine team to the Beijing contest. MTG trained Cua and Tan for the contest.

In October last year, Cua won as grand champion in the BRAND’s Asia Pacific Sudoku Challenge 2010 held in Singapore. Tan was among the Top 15 finalists.

Cua also won the same title in 2008 and placed second in the 3rd BRAND’s Sudoku Thailand International Open Princess Somsawali Cup held in Bangkok in 2009.

Cua was the grand champion in 2009 and 2010 in the Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge, an annual contest by SM Supermalls and MTG.

Tan, on the other hand, was declared grand champion in the Sudoku Grandmaster category in the 5th Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge held last January. He also won first place in the Sudoku Wizard Division in the 4th Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge last year.