DAVAO City’s Samantha Umayan bagged the runner-up honors in girls 16-under division of the recently-concluded 2020 National Age-Group Chess Championships Visayas Leg held at the Cube Wing Atrium of SM Seaside in Cebu City.
The 13-year-old Umayan, who was seeded second in the tournament, earned 5.5 points in the seven-round Swiss System format chessfest. Champion Regina Catherine Quinanola tallied six points while Checy Aliena Telesforo had 4.5 points for third.
Umayan, a Grade 8 student of Far Eastern University, lost to top seed Quinanola in their fourth round encounter and split point with Sofia Angelique Alcala in the seventh round.
She, however, pulled off wins over Christine Faith Tabungar, Wena Escalicas, Shaina Magne Romanillos, Telesforo and Angela Joelle San Luis.
The Dabawenya shared that all her matches were difficult considering that she competed not in her regular category, which is the girls 14-under.
“Happy ako kahit na hindi ko yun category nanalo ako,” Umayan, whose family resides in Deca Homes Tigatto, told SunStar Davao via Facebook yesterday, January 11.
Her feat earned her a spot in the 2020 National Age-Group Chess Championships finals.