Two Filipino students beat more than 100 contestants to emerge as champion and first runner-up in an international Sudoku competition held in Bangkok, Thailand, over the weekend.

John Robert Valcos, 17, a college student of St. Mary’s College in Baliwag, Bulacan, and Sarah Jane Cua, 14, a second year high school student of Pangasinan Universal Institute in Dagupan City, were declared the champion and first runner-up in the 3rd Brand’s Sudoku Thailand International Open 2009 Princess Somsawali Cup held at the Central World shopping complex in Bangkok, Thailand, from April 18-19.

As champion, Valcos received US$5,000 (about P238,750), a trophy and Brand’s Essence of Chicken products.

Trailing Valcos with just one point was Cua, the reigning Philippine Sudoku grandmaster, who emerged as first runner-up in the contest and received 60,000 Thai baht (about P80,602), a trophy and Brand’s Essence of Chicken products.

Cua is also the reigning champion in the Brand’s First Asia-Pacific Sudoku Challenge held in Singapore last year.

Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild-Philippines, who headed the Philippine delegation to the Bangkok contest, said Valcos and Cua’s triumph underscored the country’s performance in international math competitions.

“Their performance shows that the Philippines continues to gain recognition in international math competitions,” he said.

The Bangkok Sudoku competition was participated in by more than 100 contestants from India, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

After five rounds, the top five scorers who qualified for the championship round were Cua, who was the top scorer, followed by a participant from India, two from Thailand and Valcos, who was in fifth place.

Valcos and Cua were the runner-up and champion, respectively, in the 3rd Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge held last January.

The other members of the Philippine delegation to the Bangkok contest were Timothy James Tan of Trinity Christian School in Bacolod City, Mariel Alexis Dee and Mark Benedict Tan of Ateneo de Manila University, Ma. Czarina Angela Lao of St. Jude Catholic School in Manila, Michelle Neri Sacred Heart of Jesus, Montessori School in Cagayan de Oro City, Nathaniel Ryan Ang of Philadelphia High School in Quezon City, Mark Davidson Cua of Pangasinan Universal Institute  in Dagupan City, Matthew Chris Chan of St. Stephen High School in Manila and Jayhan Regner of Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City. 

Besides Chua, other MTG officials who accompanied the students were Dr. Eduardo Dela Cruz, vice president; Roberto Degolacion, executive director; Arvie Ubarro, board director and Marilene Ramos, MTG center coordinator.

The Philippine delegation is set to arrive in Manila Monday.