THREE Davao City chess players earned berths to the National Age-Group Chess Championships (NAGCC) grand finals after figuring in impressive finishes in the recently-concluded (NAGCC)-Mindanao Leg at Baywalk Hotel, Mati City, Davao Oriental.
Dabawenyos Gino Angelo Asuncion, James Catayas and Samantha Umayan qualified to the national finals slated May 5 to 13 in Roxas City.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) regional director James Infiesto, in a Facebook interview with Sun.Star Davao yesterday, said: "The top three in each category will advance to the nationals. Asuncion sa open 20 and Catayas sa open 10, both finished third, while si Umayan sa girls 12 by virtue na ang nag-second na si Ruelle Canino is already seeded in girls 10." Umayan, who placed fourth, took the third slot for girls 12 instead in the national championship.
Tristan Frech Ibaoc of Cagayan de Oro City emerged open 20 champion by edging fellow four-pointer Renard Mamaril via superior tiebreaks in the five-round Swiss System format tournament. Davao City's Asuncion, seeded first at the start of the tournament, led two other 3.5 scorers.
Asuncion lost to fellow Dabawenyo Bhing Joel Gimony in the first round before beating Romeo Canino, Hareve James Sumatra and Sarri Subahani. He split point with Mamaril in the final round.
Catayas, meanwhile, earned 4.5 points in the six-round open 10 division to trail behind first two placers Clint Calvin Atoc (5.5) and Cyrus James Damiray (5.0).
In girls 12, Antonella Berthe (5.5), Ruelle Canino (5.5) and Aliyah Rae Lumangtad (4.5) took the first three spots.
Infiesto said Davao City chessers faced tough competition in the regional qualifying. "Maraming members ng national team ang sumali from Makati, Laguna, Cavite, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro City," he said.
Panabo City's Carl Zirex Sato, for his part, captured the open 18 title with 4.5 points over Ernesto Canete, Jr. (4.0) and Charles John Fiel (3.5) while Ronaldo Canino topped the open 16 event over Japheth Aaron Caresosa and Philgymn Villajuan.
The rest of the national qualifiers: open 14 - Haein Angelito Aparte (first), Clyde Harris Saraos (second) and Joel Razzle Sarno (third); open 12- David Rey Ancheta (1st), Allan Gabriel Hilario (2nd), Santiago Lumancas IV (3rd); open eight - Stephen Louis Odi (1st), Yosef delos Reyes (2nd), Lawrence Raphael Lawan (3rd); girls 20 - Jearaine Chato (1st), Clair de Leon (2nd), Vebien Rafales (3rd); girls 18 - Aizel Jane Gicole (1st), Jecca Verula (2nd), Alexis Charlotte Suede (3rd); girls 16 - Mary Joy Tan (1st), WNM Francois Marie Magpily (2nd), Krezyl Jane Ibanez (3rd); girls 14- Rhea Jean Canino (first), Lorebina Carrasco II (2nd), Shaina Grace Garcia (3rd); girls 10 - Kaye Lalaine Regidor (1st), Samantha Irish Balquin (2nd), Lyn Getubig (3rd); and girls eight - Zhaoyu Capilitan (1st), Maria Teresa Lumancas (2nd) and LJ Getubig (3rd).
Mati City Mayor Carlo Rabat and the city government of Mati backed up the staging of the Mindanao Leg.