PHILIPPINE chess sensation Vic Glysen Derotas beat Nina Tuorila of Thailand in the ninth and final round on June 16, 2019 to gain an outright Woman International Master title in the 20th Asean + Age Group Chess Championships 2019 at the Golden Mandalay Hotel and Hotel Hazel in Mandalay City, Myanmar.

Derotas finished with 7.5 points to win the Under-18 girls’ division.

It was the second straight outright title for Derotas. Earlier, she dominated the Philippine Junior field to gain an outright Woman National Master title.

Eric Labog Jr. who hails from Solano, Nueva Vizcaya Jr. bested Dang Anh Quoc of Vietnam to rule the Under-18 boys’ division. He secured an outright International Master title after tallying 6.5 points for his effort.

The Philippines won eight gold medals in the prestigious tournament, with Mark Jay Bacojo earning an outright Fide Master title after topping the Boys Under 14 division.

The other gold medalists from the Philippines are Mecel Angela Gadut in the 10-Under girls, Daren dela Cruz in the 12-Under girls, Woman Fide Master Michelle Yaon in the Women’s 30-Under, National Master (NM) Alexander Milagrosa in the Seniors 50 and NM Cesar Caturla in the 65-above division. (PR)