DABAWENYOS top seed international master (IM) John Marvin Miciano and 75th seed Samantha Umayan barged into the semifinals after figuring in contrasting fates in the 75th Philippine National Chess Championships NCR Elimination Leg that closed over the weekend at MET Live in Pasay City.
Miciano and Umayan both scored five points to place 49th and 53rd, respectively, in the eight-round chessfest.
Second seed Jeth Romy Morado annexed the title with 7.5 points, followed by seven-pointers Alexis Emil Maribao and Jayson Danday.
Miciano won four matches against Mae Feliene Villaverde, Raymond Parra, Al-Basher Buto and Eown Jullado. He drew with Leonard Raymond Reyes and Michael Teves but lost to Norsh Daniel Francois Lopez and Jose Aquino Jr.
The 13-year-old Umayan, for her part, scored upsets over 67th seed John Miguel Legaspina, 52nd seed Amando Labarda and 41st seed Roma Asea Simplina, then she split points with 38th seed Anne Krischa Tagayuna and 50th seed Raymond Parra. The Dabawenya, however, succumbed to 13th seed Robert Cacho and Donato Bello Jr.
Umayan advanced to the semifinals slated in November for finishing second best among lady chessers.
"Almost all of my games in this tournament was challenging," she told SunStar Davao via Facebook.
Her father Vincent cited her feat, saying, "Strong pool to kay mixed sa open ang mga babae (She competed in a strong pool of mixed players -- open and girls)."
Umayan, a 2019 National Youth girls under-13 champion, expects even a tougher field in the semifinals.
She said, "I was already expecting that my opponents would be stronger, especially there would be more titled players in the semifinals. I should practice more."
Miciano, being a titled player, still earned a spot in the semis.