DAVAO CITY -- Cagayan de Oro National Master Levi Mercado will try his luck in the 19th Asean Age Group Chess Championships 50-above open rapid and blitz competitions on Tueday, June 26, at the Royal Mandaya Hotel in this city.
The 50-year-old Mercado skipped the classical standard event as he attended the three-day FIDE Trainers Seminar with the country’s Grandmasters Eugenio Torre and Jayson Gonzales serving as lecturers.
“The FIDE seminar was more of my priority but at least there are two more events up for grabs,” said Mercado.
The Oro NM is highly favored to win in the rapid and blitz competitions since these have been his specialties.
Lately, he scored convincing wins against top-caliber opponents in different local team tournaments.
Davao City NM Alexander Lupian will be among those being eyed along with Fide Master Adrian Pacis, Edmundo Gatus and Vietnamese Tong Thai Hung.
The Dabawenyo emerged as the 50-above gold medalist, while Pacis, Gatus and Tong finished joint second in the standard event.