AS EXPECTED, Xavier University's rich experience in inter-school chessfest led them to a superior showing in the ongoing 2009 Cosaa Meet chess tournament here at the Conference Hall of Capitol University.

The Ateneans lorded it over in almost all fronts of battle, bagging the championships in high school boys and girls and tertiary women's categories.

Host CU Stallions secured the college men's title, even as the neophyte Merry Child School continued to spring up surprises since the just concluded Milo Little Olympics Mindanao by ruling the Cosaa chess elementary girls level.

The Barangay Bulua-based Merry Child also placed strong second in secondary girls team rivalry apart from finishing third overall in elementary boys.

"We're looking forward to our counterparts in Prisaa and public schools to be our toughest test in the forthcoming City Quadrangular Meet. Pero nakulbaan mi sa Merry Child kay na 2-2 among elementary boys unya na winning pa gyod sila sa team match-up," shared XU coach Emmanuel Crisologo.

XU's top elementary player Kenneth Honculada got upset by Merry Child's Christian Coquilla on board 1 duel, though coach Crisologo has the fast-learning Adrian Othniel Yulo to thank a lot for coasting the XUGS boys to victory.

The 8-year-old Yulo, who took the board 2 position, played through an undefeated dishing out of a perfect 5 of 5 performance as quick follow up to his title finish in the Barangay 24 age-group tourney and solid play in the Milolympics.

"The kid (Yulo) is very talented. I was amazed witnessing him won a difficult Rook-and-pawn endgame. He's only in Grade 2 pero maka-perform na sa dili sayon nga board 2 assignment," Crisologo told Sun.Star.

Another 8-year-old, Honey Grace Baclayo, who only learned chess four months ago, also proved that her spectacular show in Milolympics was no fluke when she delivered another perfect slate on board 3.

Just like in Milo chess, Baclayo played in perfect tandem with team skipper and fellow gold medalist Julie Anne Opema to spearhead Merry Child's dominance in the elementary girls action.

From silver in Milo, Merry Child stalwart Carol Anne Chua improved in Cosaa by clinching the secondary girls' board 1 championship with an unblemished record.

The college women's competition appeared as like a walk in the park for the XU ladies with Palaro veterans Sittie Halia Sabo and Shian Tigulo leading the charge.

"Pero among lalake pilde na sab sa CU," observed Ralph Dalauta, a cornerstone of XU varsity men's squad last year.

Arbiter Jun Cuizon said the Cosaa chess will culminate on Saturday with the final selection of the top-two qualifiers per category for the Quadrangular Meet. (LLS)