DAVAO City chess wonder Austin Jacob Literatus is all set to display his skills anew abroad when he competes in the 2010 Asian Youth Chess Championships in Beijing, China.
The 12-year-old Literaturs, who snared gold medals for Team Philippines in the past two stagings of the Asean+ Age-Group Chess Championships, will don the country's colors for the third time.
Literatus, who is from Toril, is the 2010 National Age-Group Chess Championship Under-14 champion and will bid for the same age category against Asia's best woodpushers in the prestigious chess tournament. Matches will commence on Friday and will end July 15.
"Maningkamot ko ug maayo para mag champion ko. Ready nako mudula. Walay kulba-kulba. Dako akong kumpiyansa sa akong pagdula ngadto sa Beijing (I'll do my best to win. I'm ready to play. I don't feel nervous at all because I'm confident with my game)," Literatus told Sun.Star Davao Wednesday.
Literatus, a Do¤a Carmen Denia National High School sophomore student, arrived in Manila yesterday morning and stayed at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) dormitory in Ultra, Pasig.
He will leave for Beijing Thursday with the rest of the RP team members which include junior champion Paulo Bersamina, Jan Nigel Galan, FM Haridas Pascua, Haince Patrick de Leon, Julius Gonzales, WFM Christy Lamiel Bernales, Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Janelle Mae Frayna, Shanie Mae Mendoza and Jesca Docena.
National youth training director IM Ildefonso Datu is the team's coach.
"I consider all players as my stiffest rivals so I won't be complacent. It's only a standard competition unlike the Asean+ Age-Group where I also competed in rapid and blitz," Literatus said in the vernacular.
The young Davao player won two gold medals and one silver in the Asean event held in Subic, Olongapo City last month.
Literatus said he will put to good use his favorite Alekhine Opening in the Beijing tournament organized by the Chinese Chess Association and the Jinma Chess Club (China) is sanctioned by the Asian Chess Federation.
The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and Department of Education (DepEd) funded Literatus and the rest of the Filipinos' Beijing campaign.