JERISH JOHN VELARDE’S quest for a medal is still alive after he beat Vietnamese Bui Dang Loc in Round 8 of the 19th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Chess Championships in Davao City yesterday.
The 12-year-old Velarde of Marie Ernestine School climbed to third again after falling to sixth place last Saturday. Velarde has 5.5 points from five wins and one draw in the Under-12 Open standard chess.
CM Nguyen Quoc Hy of Vietnam leads the Under-12 Open with flawless eight points followed by compatriot Vu Hoang Gia Bao with 6.5 points, Velarde is third with 5.5 points and Loc is fourth with five points.
While Velarde is still in the running for a medal, the other Cebuanos are out of the Top 3 after Round 8.
Alphecca Gonzales is at seventh place with five points in the girls’ Under 16; Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano ranked eighth with 4.5 points in the Under-20 Open; and Vic Glysen Derotas is at ninth place with 4.5 points in the girls’ Under-18. RSC