Roderick Nava

Roderick Nava (born 1 January 1985) is Filipino Chess International Master and commentator. He makes content on YouTube, where he shows and commentates professional Chess games and tournaments, and sometimes his own games.
== Chess career ==
In November 2005, Nava participated in World Junior Chess Championship 2005, where he won 4 points out of 11 total games. After the tournament, his rating decreased from 2317 to 2296, a loss of 21 Elo points.
In April 2006, Nava participated Philippine National Open Chess Championship. He finished in 3rd place, winning 5 points out of 8 games. Oliver Dimakiling finished in 2nd place scoring 5/7; while Darwin Laylo won the tournament, scoring 7.5/10, and retaining the title of national champion. Interestingly, Nava outperformed Wesley So in this tournament, who finished in 9th place. Wesley So would go on to become a Grandmaster in 2008, and a three-time Philippine Chess Champion from 2009 to 2011. This tournament was very significant for Nava, as he gained 51.75 rating points from it, boosting his Elo up to 2348.
In November of the same year, Nava participated in the 1st GMA Cup International open. He scored 2.5/6 and lost 8.85 rating.
In December, Nava participated in two more tournaments, namely: the 2nd Cong. Prospero Pichay Cup; and the 3rd Singapore Masters International Open Tournament. In the former, he scored 0/2, losing 13.2 rating points. In the latter, he scored 5/9 against a 2400-average rated field, gaining 17.1 rating. After both tournaments, he gained 3.9 Elo points.
In April 2007, Nava participated in the Philippines International Open Chess Championship. He scored 2/7 and lost 14.4 rating.
In July, Nava participated in a Selection Tournament. He performed well and scored 6/11, gaining 22.35 Elo points. His rating now stood at 2351, crossing the 2350-mark.
In November, Nava participated in the 2nd PGMA Cup. He performed relatively poorly, especially when compared to his performance in July. He scored 4/9 against a 2293-average rated field, losing 18.45 rating.
In December, Nava participated in the 12th Rakan Muda GACC World Inter-Varsity Chess Championship. He scored 5.5/7, gaining 12.3 rating.
Sometime in 2007, Nava also became a FIDE Master (FM).
In April 2008, Nava participated in the 8th Bangkok Chess Club Open. He scored 5/8, losing 0.45 rating.
In May, Nava participated in two tournaments: the 2nd Philippine International Open; and the 1st Subic International Open. He scored 6/11 in the former and 4/8 in the latter, gaining 12.9 and 13.35 rating respectively. In total, he gained 26.25 rating points in May.
In June, Nava participated in three tournaments: the 2008 Palawan Open Championship; the ASEAN MASTERS CIRCUIT - DANANG IM TOURNAMENT 2008; and the National Semi Finals Olympiad Qualification. He scored 2/5 in the 2008 Palawan Open Championship, losing 3.45 rating. He scored 6/9 in the ASEAN MASTERS CIRCUIT - DANANG IM TOURNAMENT 2008, finishing in 2nd place, behind only Thien Hai Dao, gaining 33.6 rating. Nava scored 1.5/3 in the National Semi Finals Olympiad Qualification, losing 0.15 rating. In total, he gained 30 rating points in June.
After a string of tournament successes in May and June, Nava managed to reach the 2400 Elo-mark, which was officially reflected in his October FIDE Rating. 
Nava's next tournament was in January 2009, when he participated in the 1st Gov. Aurelio Umali Cup Open. He scored 3.5/6, losing 3.3 rating.
After the 1st Gov. Aurelio Umali Cup Open, Nava took a three-year long hiatus from professional Chess. It wouldn't be until the National Open Semifinals that we would see him back on the board. In June 2012, Nava participated in the National Open Semifinals. He finished tied for 2nd place with Randy Segarra, but behind Oliver Dimakiling, scoring 6.5/9, and gaining 3.4 rating. This was the last time that Nava was at his peak rating of 2400 Elo. 
In July, Nava participated in the Philippines National Open Chess Finals (Battle of Grandmasters). He finished in last place, scoring 3/15, and losing 37.6 rating.
Nava attained the title of International Master (IM) in 2013.
Category:1985 births
Category:People of the Philippines
Category:Filipino chess players
Category:Commentators