CAGAYAN de Oro and Misamis Oriental’s top young chess players seem now ready to campaign in the forthcoming Mindanao leg of the national age-group chess tourney.
This, after the favored bets dominated the Parent Chess Club Tournament youth tourney held recently at the 2nd floor, Green Lane of the Limketkai Mall here.
Corpus Christi’s Euneil Grant Capilitan, Golden Cedar’s Kurt John Axel Managase and Barangay Bayabas Elementary School’s Clyde Andres ruled in their respective age categories to win juicy cash prizes and medals along with the top-5 others.
Capilitan scored 6 points to reign in high school category for boys and girls, Managase edged out fellow 6.5 pointers Joel Lawrence Hoy of Bulua Elementary School in the Bucholz tiebreaker to pocket the top prize in Grade 4-6 level (boys and girls) and Andres (6 pts) won the tiebreaker over Samantha Irish Balquin (6 pts) of City Central School to bag the title in Grade 1-3 class.
“It was just a rapid event played in one day but around 140 players came to participate. And good thing is wala gyod nagpalupig ang mga babae sa lalake.. kombate kaayo ilang mga dula,” said arbiter Lorenzo `Jun’ Cuizon.
The high school’s top-10 winners were Capilitan, Ronald Canino, Cressler Bruce Gabing, Timothy Robert Mutia, Christian Aquino, Ashlanie Pandi, Mary Joy Tan, Gwen Escarda, Lorebina Carrasco II and Matthew Robert Mutia.
The Grade 4-6’s top-10 finishers were Managase, Hoy, Chargaets Andres, Janielle Maeren Garcia, Lance Raphael Magluyoan, Ruelle Canino, Symond Ridge Fernandez, Raphael Rain Eduave, Richily Evanz Cuizon and Khent Lourence Canas.
Joining Andres and Balquin among the top-10 in Grade 1-3 division were Zhaoyu Capilitan, Maria Teresa Lumancas, Gaius Luna, Prince Joseph Go, Mike Ian Oco, Princess Erica Rapirap, Christopher Castino and Russel Canino.
Meanwhile, the city government of Mati, Davao del Norte will reportedly host the the National Age-Group Chess Championships on March 23 to 25 at the Baywalk Hotel in said town.
Mati Mayor Carlo Rabat, in a statement furnished to SunStar, bared that the city government accepted the hosting of the annual chessfest organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) under its president Prospero Pichay.
"Being the host city, we are honored to have been chosen as venue of this event which is the very first of its kind to be held in our new but fast developing city of Mati," he said.
He assured organizers, participants and guests that Mati welcomes them.
"The doors are open for you to savor the warmth of the city and its resilient people with diverse culture and heritage."
Rabat cited the world-class natural endowments and eco-tourist spots of the city.
"I wish you all a vibrant and successful conduct of your activity and we hope that you will enjoy your stay in the city of Mati as you explore some other natural endowments of the city and learn to love Mati also, the way we do, as proud Matinians," Rabat said.
NCFP regional coordinator James Infiesto, meanwhile, said the top three to five players per age category in the Mindanao leg will advance to the grand finals in Manila by April where the winners will earn spots to the Asean Age-Group Chess Championships in Davao City slated June 18 to 28.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, he said,is also upbeat about Davao City's hosting of the international chessfest. (With reports from MLSA)