Davao aces ready for Asean chess

DAVAO City woodpushers Austin Jacob Literatus, Ella Grace Moulic and Marvin Miciano are all set to carry flag and country when they compete in the 13th Asean Age-Group Chess Championships on June 11 to 19 in Hue, Vietnam.

Doña Carmen Denia National High School's Literatus, who has a wide collection of medals including golds in past Asean meets, will test his mettle in boys 16-under category where he is entered for the first time.

He got a team gold medal in boys 14-under rapid event in Tarakan, Indonesia last year and team bronzes in standard and blitz of the same age-group.

"Naga-jogging ko taga-buntag aron naa koy physical and mental stamina. Sige pud ko ug solve problems ug puzzles aron maabtik akong huna-huna (I've been jogging every morning to improve my physical and mental stamina. I also solve problems and puzzles to keep my mind active)," the Toril-based Literatus, a double gold medalist in the 11th Asean edition in Olongapo, said during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn on Tuesday.

He, however, expects stiff competition against Vietnam players the likes of Lee Tuan Mingh and Lu Chang Hung considered as among the host country's best bets.

Holy Cross of Davao College standout Moulic, who is playing in girls 14-under, said she will try to improve in her openings.

She said in the vernacular, "I need to better my openings so I can have a better chance for the gold.

Moulic swept a team blitz gold, team rapid silver, team standard bronze and individual blitz bronze in the 2011 staging.

Ateneo de Davao University's John Marvin Miciano, for his part, is ready to vie for the boys 12-under gold.

Miciano, according to his father Johnny, is currently training in Manila with first Filipino international master (IM) Rodolfo Cardoso.

The elder Miciano said his son has an advantage being also a swimmer, adding: "Stamina is very important so chess players can concentrate even in the long run that's why Marvin continues to train in swimming as well."

National Chess Federation of the Philippines Region 11 director James Infiesto, who was also guest at the DSA Forum, said he is grateful for the support of 1st District City Councilor Jackson Reyes to the athletes.

From Vietnam, the three Dabawenyos chessers will also show their wares in the Asian Youth Championships 2012 slated June 24 to July 2 in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka.