LAPU-LAPU City chess prodigy Jerish John Velarde just played the best game of his young career as he forced the higher-rated NM John Merill Jacutina to a draw in the opening round of the 2016 Philippine Sports Commission-Puregold International Chess Challenge in Subic last Tuesday.
Jacutina plays Board 1 for the Far Eastern University high school team.
The draw came as a surprise for most chess gazers as Jacutina, who has won so many battles, was forced to settle for a draw by a 10-year-old fourth grader of Marie Ernestine School of Lapu-Lapu City following a heated exchange that put Velarde in a winning position.
Velarde played a more solid and more mature game against Jacutina, who has joined Velarde in many international battles. Jacutina is six years older than Velarde and he’s rated higher at 2085 compared to the Cebuano’s 1502.
“It was a big upset for Jacutina to settle for a draw with Jerish. He is seeded No.12 with a (Fide) rating of more than 2000, while Jerish is only above 1500,” said Velarde’s father John, who was also officiating in his first international competition as a national arbiter.
“This is my first experience as (a) chess arbiter for international tournament. The games here are very tough. GM vs. GM, it’s another level of competition,” added the older Velarde, who was assigned at Boards 1-17 in the Open Division that is participated in by 34 players. The open division has 13 grandmasters, one woman GM, six international masters, four woman IM, one Fide master and one WFM.
Although the young Velarde lost his second match to No.2 seed FM Adrian Pacis, who is 52 years older than him, yesterday morning, his performance has made waves in the competition.
As of press time, Velarde was set tp face unrated Isaac Chavez, who is also older by at least 20 years.
Cebuana Glesit Marie Tatoy was not as lucky as the De La Salle Zobel mainstay is still winless after two games.