2 Pinoy Teens wins in Beijing Sudoku tilt

Two Filipino teens landed in the 1st and 2nd places in the Under-18 Category of the Keija Pengcheng Cup Beijing International Sudoku Tournament in Beijing, China, this weekend.

After the 3-day tournament, which happened May 19-22, Sarah Jane Cua, 16, the country's former "Sudoku Grandmaster," won the 1st place, while Timothy James Tan, 14, the reigning "Sudoku Grandmaster" got the 2nd place.

Cua won US$500 and a trophy while Tan received $400 and a certificate.

Cua is an incoming Management Engineering freshman at the 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.

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

Tan, on the other hand, was declared Grand Champion of the Sudoku Grandmaster Category in the 5th Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge, January of this year. He also won 1st Place in the Sudoku Wizard Division in the 4th Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge 2010. — CLEZ