TWO young Baguio woodpushers are off to India later this month after topping their respective age division in the 15th Asean Age Group Championship at the Philippine Sports Commission National Athletes Dining Hall.
University of Baguio students Bea Mendoza and Brylle Gever Vinluan punched a ticket to the New Delhi joust after edging their highly fancied rivals en route to the 16 under and 14 under crowns.
Vinluan ruled the Under 16 division beating top seed Daryl Unix Samantila.
“It was his first win over the top ranked player,” said trainer Ronaldo Alvez.
Vinluan edged Samantila in the penultimate that left him atop the 23 boys field but Elijah Maliam fell in the last round to Samantila.
The final round saw the incoming Grade 9 half the point with Sean Andrew Olan to win with five points.
Maliam finished with 4.5 points while Samantila was in a three way tie for third with John Fleer Donginues, Olan and Kenneth Flores.
Donginues beat Antonio Almodal III in the last round, while Flores topped Jayson Danday.
Mendoza, on the other hand, was the runaway winner in the 14 under girls after giving up half a point to FIDE Master Allaney Jia Doroy.
The incoming Grade 7 took the first two games but found her China teammate a tough nut to crack after they settled for a draw despite her playing black.
From there, the 12 year older took three wins to complete the six round even as Doroy took a beating in the next round to Genlaiza Pearl Bagorio and to eventual second placer Cherry Lyn Donguines.
The win over Doroy, on the other hand propelled Donguines, daughter of FIDE Master Fernie and younger sister of the 16 under fourth placer John Fleer.
Donguines was tied with Jamaica Marie Lagrio, who also won her last match against Zoe Canasta. Jesca Docena finished fifth with 3.5 points along with Doroy but had a lower tie break point.
Last year, Mendoza was with Doroy and Natori Diaz as they took the gold in the South East ASEAN+ age group chess championship in Chang Mai, Thailand where they took a gold.
Vinluan completes the three-boy team in the 16 under in Macau with Samantila and Renzy Sevillano.