Young Pangasinan chess players shine in national games
LINGAYEN–Pangasinan woodpushers excelled in the 2011 National Age Group Chess Championship held April 8 to 12 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) gymnasium here at the capitol town.
Leading the winners were siblings Fide Master Cherry Ann Mejia and Giovanni Mejia from Labrador who clinched championship medals in the under-16 girls and under 14 boys divisions, respectively.
Top seed Haridas Pascua from Mangatarem placed second in the boys under-18 while Samantha Glo Revita of Rosales grabbed the second spot in the girls under-12.
Other young Pangasinan chess players who also notched second places were Paul Robert Evangelista (boys under-16), Dennis Gutierrez III (boys under-8), and Reyne Palaming (girls under-10).
In third spot for boys under-10 was Dennis Guttierez Jr.
Other winners who landed on the top ten posts were: Prince Mark Aquino, rank 4 (boys under-16); Rodney Palaming rank 5 (boys under-18); and Mikaela Bianca Gutierrez, rank 5 (girls under-12); Dan Angelo Ablang, rank 6 (boys under-8); Fernando Mendoza, rank 7 (boys under-12); Ernalie Bayot, rank 9 (girls under-16); Hannah Kathleen Apeta, rank 9 (girls under-12); Modesto Magat III, rank 10 (boys under-16), Danzel Jude Ubando, rank 10 (boys under-8), and Danica Alexis Ablang, rank 10 (girls under 12).
PASSION FOR CHESS
Governor Amado Espino, Jr., an ardent supporter of sports development in the province, congratulated the players and urged them to keep bringing pride to the province.
“What we need is to revive the passion among Filipino chess players and we, in the government, will try our best to resurrect our excellence in chess by providing support to the athletes,” said Espino.
Grand Master Eugene Torre, a Pangasinense, graced the awarding ceremony and hailed the governor for his support to the development of chess, saying it is a “genuine move coming from the heart of a king, systematic and orderly, all aimed to checkmate all problems to protect his pawns (constituents).”
Asian international master Rodolfo Cardoso, who hails from Alaminos City, was also present during the closing ceremony.
The national tournament, dubbed by Grandmaster and tournament director Jayson Gutierrez as the “best tournament in the entire country in terms of venue and hospitality of the host”, was participated in by about 300 chess players from around the country.
The top winners will represent the country in the Asian Youth Chess Championship to be held in Subic on May 14 to 22. (PIO)
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