DAVAO CITY -- Former Asean champion Ruelle Canino did not go home empty-handed after the smoke of battle cleared in the 19th Asean Age Group Chess Championships, concluded here on June 27 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.
The 10-year-old Canino felt envious of her elder brother Ronald, who pulled two gold medals in the 16-under open classical standard individual and team event on Sunday, when she just landed for silver in the individual event though won a gold in team category.
Ruelle, a three-time Asean Age Group girls individual classical standard gold medalist, broke in tears when she failed in her fourth attempt to win the individual gold after heart-breaking losses in the last two matches on that day.
But on Wednesday, the grade 5 student from Kauswagan Central School made her presence felt in the final day of action.
She knocked the gold in the 10-under girls individual blitz event after finishing 8 points in nine rounds and won another gold medal in the team competition.
“Deperensya if you won in the individual kay sa team,” said Johnnel Balquin, the head coach of Cagayan de Oro chess.
Mary Joy Tan, who won double golds in the 16U girls rapid event, added a gold from the team competition and a bronze in individual category of the blitz event.
Janella Maereen Garcia missed the gold from a five-way tie for first place in the 12U girls individual rapid play, but her low tie-break points denied her a medal.
Garcia, however, shared the gold in team event.
The city government supported the Oro Asean age group chess campaigners.
“Daghan salamat ni Mayor Oscar Moreno, city sports overseer Rocky Calingin and city sports coordinator Jaymar Rivera sa suporta,” said Balquin.