AT LEAST four of Cagayan de Oro's 14 bets made it to the ASEAN Chess Championships in Myanmar after hurdling the 2019 National Age-Group qualifier concluded, over the weekend, in Zambales.
Leading the charge is Ruelle "Super Tawing" Canino who made up the poor showing of her three older siblings by winning the Girls Under-12 championship.
The pint-sized Canino swept the last four rounds in 12-round brain-wracking action across the 64-square-board to overtake her Round 2 conqueror from Luzon, Jersey Marticio in the race for first place.
Canino finished with 9 points to Marticio's 8.5 points for the gold and silver, respectively, as Daren dela Cruz got the bronze with 7.5 points.
Also qualifying are Zhaoyu Capilitan (G-Under 8 bronze), Mary Joy Tan (G-Under 16 bronze) and Clyde Harris Saraos (Boys Under-16 bronze).
Saraos is tied with Jave Mareck Peteros from the Visayas at 7 points each. But Saraos nosed out Peteros in the Bucholz tiebreaker, 34.75-34.50 to bag the bronze enough to join Canino and company for the ASEAN trip later this year in Myanmar.
"Upat ang nag-qualify pero dili ko satisfied. Next time around mas ato pa gyod seryosohon ang preparasyon sa mga bata," later said Oro chess coach Johnnel Balquin.
Christian James Aquino had the chance to win the bronze in Boys Under-18 class, but lost in his final round assignment.
Among the Mayor Oscar Moreno-backed Cagayan de Oro chessers who missed the chance to represent the Philippine team in Myanmar are Rhea Jean Canino, Ronald Canino, Romeo Canino, Lyn Getubig, Janiella Maeren Garcia, Me Ann Joy Baclayon, Aizel Jane Gicole, Bhea Buen Ecal, Keith Adriane Ilar, Joel Lawrence Hoy and Samantha Balquin.