PLAYING quality chess from start to end, Ruelle “Tawing” Canino of Barangay Kauswagan Elementary School completed a rare-sweep finish to emerge champion again in the Masters Class Chess School tourney for elementary pupils concluded on Saturday, January 26, at the Limketkai Mall.
The bemedalled Canino, who is a consistent top-notch performer in the Asean age-group, tallied a perfect 7 of 7 performance to pocket the P5,000 top purse and the championship trophy for Grades 4,5 and 6 level.
She was relentless in the last three rounds against equally-strong opponents.
Facing Nikko Tabacuan in Round 5, Canino sacrificed a Knight that cannot be taken but with lasting effect.
In the penultimate sixth round against fellow Milo Little Olympics standout Joseph Alexis dela Rama, Canino showed that with proper maneuvering a pair of Knights can dominate the dangerous tandem of Bishops. And in the seventh final round opposite Maeren Janiella Garcia, Canino was simply overwhelming that her much older female adversary did not survive the complicated middlegame squabble.
“Nag-mature na gyod si Tawing (Canino). Bug-at na gayud motira ang gamay nga bata,” said Capitol Chess Park stalwart Rodney Opada.
Santiago Lumancas IV of Barangay Lumbia Elementary School scored six points to capture the P3,000 runner-up prize. While Andry James Sabella from Bolisong, El Salvador City carded 5.5 points for the third prize honor worth P2,000 also with trophy.
Dela Rama of City Central School edged out a big bunch of 5 pointers in the Bucholz tiebreak to claim the P1,000 fourth prize.
Completing the top-10 circle were Nikko Tabacuan (City Central), Kyla Dalagan (Tagoloan), Alliah Faith Bansiloy (Bulua Elem. School), Garcia (Golden Cedar Christian Academy), Honey Jane Salabsab (Bolisong, El Salvador), John Kenneth Tiro (Golden Cedar) and Chergaets Andres of brgy. Bayabas Elem. School.
Sharing Canino with the spotlight is the little-known Keith Adriane Ilar of El Salvador Elementary School and Zhaoyu Capilitan of Mastersons Avenue Elem. School who made a 1-2 finish in Grades 1, 2 and 3 category.
Both Ilar and Capilitan finished with 5 points in 6 rounds, but the former got the first place by virtue of superior tiebreak points. They received P5,000 and P3,000 each.
Tagoloan pride LJ Getubig occupied solo third place with 4.5 points to bag P2,000 also with trophy.
Zesley Van Galgao of City Central School and Roehl Ian Jamisola of brgy. Bayanga led a group of 4 pointers including Lawrence Raphael Lawan, Russel Canino and Quarl Maverick Vera Cruz from fourth to eight place.
Rounding up the top-10 winners were Mheckhailah Vera Cruz and Jesheene Ybor Careras with 3.5 points apiece.
The Masters Class Chess School's inaugural tourney also serves as introduction of the newly-conceptualized MCCS which offers chess lessons for young pupils in a very professional way under the tutelage of National Masters Levi Mercado and Rustum Tolentino with the full support of NM Roly Tan of Goldcrest Marketing.
“Ang mo-excel nga bata ini nga school tabangan ni Roly especially sa competition in foreign soil. Daghan opportunity sa Masters Class Chess School, though it's still a long way to go,” said Ronald Rufin who helped chief arbiter Lorenzo Cuizon Jr. and arbiter William Reintegrado in running the kiddies chessfest.