Youthful woodpushers compete in the ongoing 2017 National Age-Group Chess Championships Grand Finals at Robinsons Galleria Cebu.
CDN PHOTO/GLENDALE G. ROSAL
2017 National Age-Group Chess C’SHIPS
Region VII’s Antique Palarong Pambansa gold medalists in elementary girls chess, Alphecca Gonzales and Regina Catherine Quiñanola provided the bright spot in a rather bleak day for local pawn pushers in the ongoing 2017 National Age-Group Chess Championships Grand Finals at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu.
Gonzales and Quiñanola shared the lead in the under-14 girls division with 4.0 points, the same score of co-leader Ruth Joy Vinuya of Ilagan, Isabela.
Gonzales, who lost to Davao City’s Irish Yngayo in the opening round, has won four straight matches including a win over top seed Blanche Ellyz Bongato, Marian Calimbo, Adelyn Bensi and Me Ann Joy Baclayon.
Quiñanola meanwhile, is still unbeaten in the division. She edged Aera Kerl Charm Sinining in the opening round, Calimbo in the second round, Wenseal Kaye Magoliman in the third round, edged her younger sibling Mary Margarett in the fourth round.
Gonzales, the second seed in the division, next plays Sinining while Quiñanola, the ninth seed in under-14 girls division, squares off with 14th seed Oryza Reign Repato.
Cebuano player Jave Mareck Peteros, on the other hand, is currently trailing Cavite’s Daniel Quizon in the boys-under 14 division.
Peteros, Khalil Kis-ing and Chrisus Sarchez are tied at the second place with 4.0 points while Quizon took the solo lead with 5.0 points. Peteros, who is the seventh seed in his division, faces 11th seed Jamon Cajeras in round six.
Keith Claire Carlisle Morala relinquished her lead in the 20-under women’s division with 3.0 points while Mira Mirano of Aklan occupied the top spot with 4.0 points.
Morala, who led the first two rounds, lost in the third round. Morala along with Venice Vicente, Virginie Ruaya and Women’s FIDE Master (WFM) Marie Antoinette San Diego are bunched at second spot with 3.0 points each.
Meanwhile, Duane Borgonia held on to the second spot in the under-16 boys division with 3.5 points behind pacesetter Jerick Marino of Laguna who has 4.5 points. Joining Borgonia in second place are Lee Roi Palma and Jan Daryl Batula.