AFTER topping tournaments in his age bracket, Jerish John Velarde is taking his game to another level and joining the 2016 PSC-Puregold International Chess Chess in Subic Peninsula Hotel in Olongapo City.
The Lapu-Lapu City chess prodigy joined his fellow future chess stars in the cash-rich tournament for players with ELO ratings below 2199, which is organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP). The Challenger Division that offers a total of more than P275,000.
Starting at No. 37, the 10-year-old Velarde, who carries with him Fide ratings of 1502, played the No. 12-ranked NM John Merill Jacutina, six years older, who carries a 2085 rating, as of press time yesterday, and is scheduled to play two games today in this 9-Round Swiss System competition.
Velarde, who was given the Candidate Master (CM) title two years ago in Singapore, is also joined by another Cebuana player, Glesit Marie Tatoy, who is now playing for De La Salle Zobel School in Muntinlupa, played against No. 14 Christy Lamiel Bernales.
Velarde’s usual opponents in his age division—Daniel Quizon, Alekhine Nouri, Tristan Jed Cervero, Justine Diego Mordido—were among the competitors in this six-day tournament.
Three days ago, Cebuano Rhenzi Kylle Sevillano finished 16th in the 2016 Philippine International Open Challenger Division, finishing with 6 points after 9-Rounds to tie with nine other players who shared the 8th to 17th places.
Sevillano, who is now playing for Far Eastern University in the UAAP, had five wins, two losses and two draws.