PAULO "Pau" Sales Bersamina, who is currently the RP 12 and under champion, scored another milestone by winning the 2010 National Juniors Chess Championship at the Gaisano Grand Citimall in Davao City on Monday.
The Pasay City whiz kid, who celebrated his 12th birthday last February 1, finished with 7 points in a tie with Zamboanga City native Joey Albert Florendo of the University of Santo Tomas.
Bersamina, however, edged out Florendo in the Bucholz tiebreak to become the youngest ever RP Junior champion.
"My hard work paid off," said the former La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) top gunner Bersamina, fondly called "Pau" in the local chess circuit.
Both Bersamina and Florendo obtained an outright national master titles.
Handling black, Bersamina played to a draw against another UST mainstay Patrick Erle Florendo in the ninth and final round. While the younger Florendo wielded the white pieces to stop the winning run of Michael Joseph Pagaran of Tagbilaran, Bohol.
RTU Mandaluyong City pride Richilieu Salcedo III beat Jerwell Andoy of Davao City to lead a huge group of 6.5 pointers that included Nelson Mariano III, Patrick Erle Florendo, Pagaran, Jay Bulicatin and Mc Dominique Lagula in the event that attracted around 80 woodpushers (aged 20 and below) from all over the country.
"He'd probably attain a grandmaster status at the age of 15," predicts National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president/ chairman Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr.
International Master Oliver Barbosa then owned the distinction as RP's youngest NM at 11 during the time of the now defunct Philippine Chess Federation (PCF) under the baton of the late lawyer and Philippine Star columnist Arturo Borjal.
"Magaling yan si Bersamina (Paulo) at saka consistent," said GM Wesley So's spokesman and long-time manager Reginald Tee.
It can be recalled that GM So won the RP Junior Championship at the age of 13 in 2007.
Meanwhile, Woman National Master Aices Salvador of Manila had convincingly ruled the distaff competition of the National Juniors.
Salvador, who piled up 8 points, settled for a truce with Marie Antoinette San Diego of Cavite in the final round.
2006 Doha Asian Games representative WNM Jedara Docena of Tagbilaran bested Mary israel Palero of Davao City to finish with 7.5 points for solo second place.
WNM Jan Jodilyn Fronda of Manila, meantime defeated Sittie Halia Sabo of Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City to hike her total output to 7 points good enough for solo third.
At 4th place is WNM Christy Lamiel Bernales of Quezon City who defeated Chairmaine Casimina of Batangas City in the final round of this 29-player's field.
Final Standings/ Rankings:
Boys, 80-player's field
7 pts -- Paulo Bersamina, Joey Albert Florendo
6.5 pts -- Richilieu Salcedo III, Nelson Mariano III, Patrick Erle Florendo,Michael Joseph Pagaran,Jay Bulicatin, Mc Dominique Lagula
6 pts -- Jerwell Andoy, Yves Christian Fiel, Franz Robert Grafil, John Ray Batucan, Neptali Batucan III
Girls, 29-player's field
8 pts -- WNM Aices Salvador
7.5 pts -- WNM Jedara Docena
7 pts -- WNM Jan Jodilyn Fronda
6 pts -- WNM Christy Lamiel Bernales
5.5 pts -- Sittie Halia Sabo,Marie Antoinette San Diego, Judith Pineda, Lovelyn Medina
(With MB reports)