GM-Elect Pascua hails Gov. Espino for honing skills of young chessers
Grand Master-elect Haridas Pascua of Mangatarem town has expressed gratitude to Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. “for his commitment in supporting programs which hone the skills of amateur and aspiring chess players in the province” during the opening ceremonies of the Pangasinan Chess Festival held at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center (PTDC) in September 12. Pascua, 22, completed the third and last GM norm last August in Abu Dhabi Chess Festival; however, he still needs to earn 48 more points to upgrade his existing Elo chess rating from 2452 to 2500 to be formally declared as the 16th GM of the Philippines and the first Pangasinense to attain said feat.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa pagtitiwala at sa patuloy na pagsuporta ni Governor Espino sa paglalaro ko ng chess mula ng 7 years-old ako,” said Pascua, who owes a lot from his participation to chess clinics and tournaments sponsored by the provincial government since 2010.
Hundreds of young chess enthusiasts swarm Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. and Grand Master-elect Haridas Pascua of Mangatarem town who are performing a ceremonial move to formally start the Pangasinan Chess Festival. /DManaois
He also thanked Pangasinan Chess League (PCL) President Juan Vicente ‘Don’ Sison and Pascua’s father, Gilbert for their unwavering support. Meanwhile, Governor Espino exhorted more than 500 young chess players from various parts of Pangasinan and nearby provinces and cities to take advantage of the chess clinics and chess tournaments organized by the province in partnership with PCL.
The provincial chief executive likewise thanked the parents of the chess players for being supportive of their children in playing chess as he cited the feat of Pascua as source of inspiration for young Pangasinenses.
The Pangasinan Chess Festival, now on its fifth year – is a brainchild project of Governor Espino, which seeks to develop and prepare Pangasinense chess players from the grassroots level. The ongoing 5th Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. Chess Clinic slated on September 12, 13, 19 and 20 serves as prelude to three chess tournaments of the Pangasinan Chess Festival: 5th Pangasinan Age Group Chess Championship (October 10-11); 5th Pangasinan Chess Championship (November 7-8); and 7th Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. Cup Open Chess Tournament (December 11-13).
The most celebrated is Pascua, who was then feted as the second Pangasinense International Master (IM) — 57 years after when the late Rodolfo Tan Cardoso of Alaminos City, the first chess IM in Asia, got the title. Two other wood pushers, Cherry Anne Mejia of San Jacinto and Samantha Glo Revita of Rosales were recognized as Women Fide Masters./MGNO
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