Cebu jr chessers set to dominate Visayas leg of nat’l tilt

CEBUANO junior wood pushers continue to show solid form in the ongoing 2015 National Age Group Chess Championships-Visayas Leg at the Robinson’s Cybergate Mall.

The Cebu assault was led by Alphecca Gonzales of Danao City and Nicole Mangubat of Cebu City who took the titles in the girls under-12 and girls under-10 divisions, respectively. Gonzales scored 4.5 points while Mangubat finished the five-round event with 4.0 points.

Me Ann Joy Baclayon of Cagayan de Oro City finished second in the girls U-12 with 4.0 points while Mary Joy Tan of Misamis Oriental came in third with 3.5 points.

Precious Day Yecla of Aklan and Rhea Jean Canino of CdO each had 3.5 points to place second and third respectively, in the girls U-10.

Meanwhile, Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano virtually bagged the boys U-16 crown with five wins in as many rounds. The pride of the University of San Carlos (USC) was playing his final match as of press time yesterday.

Mandaue City’s John Lester Belano is also unbeaten after five rounds in the U-10 class beating Lapu-lapu City’s Jerish John Velarde in yesterday’s fifth round. Velarde is at second place with 4.0 points followed by Julian Reymund Suniel of CdO.

Mandaue City’s Airene Robillos is also running strong in the girls U-16 with 4.5 points but Vic Glyzen Derotas fell short in her bid to annex the girls U-14 crown after finishing third in the division with 3.0 points. Ilo-ilo City’s Fiona Geeweneth Guirhem topped the division with 5.0 points while Glybel Jane Quinanola finished third with 4.0 points.

Leading in the other divisions are Pangasinan’s Prince Mark Aquino in the boys U-18 with 4.0 points; Ronald Canino of CdO in the U-12 with 4.5  and Ilo-ilo City’s Cyril Felrod Telesforo in the boys U-14 with 4.5 points.

Duane Pahaganas of Escalante City pocketed the boys U-8 crown with a perfect 5.0 points.