Pangasinan team wins in Asean chessfest
LINGAYEN–Pangasinan woodpushers supported by the provincial government delivered a impressive performance in the 14th ASEAN Age Group Chess Championships 2013 held June 5 to 14 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, bagging 20 out of the 65 medals snared by the Philippine team.
Philippine Chess Federation under executive director and Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales noted said that Pangasinan hauled the most number of medals among all provinces in the country.
Pangasinan’s gold medalists include Haridas Pascua (Under 20 category) from Mangatarem who pocketed five gold medals and one silver, Samantha Glo Riveta (Under 14) from Rosales who won two gold and three silver medals, and Giovanni Mejia (Under 16) from Labrador who captured two gold and one silver.
Other rising stars in Philippine chess include Jodilyn Fronda (Girls Under 20) from Alaminos with three silver medals, Istraellito Rilloza (Under 12) from San Fabian with two silver and bronze medals, and John Bravo from Lingayen, a board player of the Philippine Team which romped off as team champion of the under 10 years old category.
All Pangasinan woodpushers are regular participants of Governor Amado Espino Jr.’s chess clinics and tournaments, which was launched several years ago to help groom homegrown athletes.
The governor’s program is supported by the Pangasinan Chess League headed by Don Sison.
Dubbed as the “next big thing” in chess, Revita is now the youngest Women FIDE Master in the country with her improved chess ratings after the tournament, according to Rodolfo Cardozo, the country’s first International Master.
Revita is set to compete in the Asian Chess Championship starting June 20 in Iran.
Except for Rilloza, who plays for the Far Eastern University and resides in Las Piñas, the rest of the team members are based in Pangasinan.
In related development, the Capitol earlier launched a bid to host the next ASEAN Age Group Chess Championships.
Subic Freeport, Olongapo City hosted the same event in 2010. (PIO)
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