Tuesday, June 17, 2008 Davao kid off to big start in rapid chess By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
AFTER his gold-medal conquest in standard chess, John Ray Batucan of Davao City opened his campaign in rapid chess Monday on a high note when he won his first three matches in the 9th Asean Age-Group Chess Championships in Vietnam.
The 11-year-old Batucan amassed 3.0 points after three wins in the Boy's 12-under of the rapid chess, only to lose his next match to Vietnam's Lu Chan Hung.
In rapid chess, each player is given 25 minutes to complete the game.
Despite the defeat in the fourth round, Batucan is still in strong contention for the gold. He was scheduled to play Fide Master Vuong Trung Hieu in the fifth round Monday afternoon.
Batucan, a son of a taxi driver from Toril, opened his campaign in rapid chess with a win over Samuel Lieu and Nicholas Chew of Singapore in the first two rounds, respectively.
Batucan is actually gunning for his third gold medal in the tournament after also powering Team Philippines to the team gold in the Boy's 12-under.
Prince Mark Aquino of San Nicolas, Pangasinan and Jan Nigel Galan of Valenzuela City also kept the Philippine flag flying high after winning their first two assignments in the Boys' 14-under.
Loren Brigham Laceste of Sto. Tomas, La Union beat compatriot Narquingden Reyes of Rodriguez, Rizal to score 1.5 points in the Boys' 16 and under.
The entry of tournament top seed GM Le Quang Liem gave superiority of the host country in the Boys'18 and under and he is expected to win the gold medal with perfect 2.0 points thus far.
Standard play gold medallist Richieleu Salcedo of Cagayan de Oro City and Karl Victor Ochoa of Calumpit, Bulacan had 1.0 point each after two rounds.
