Cebu’s Quiñanola falters in 9th round to lose lead

After leading the under-14 girls division for seven rounds, Cebu’s top bet Regina Catherine Quiñanola suffered a huge drop in the ranking after faltering in the ninth round of the 2017 National Age Group Chess Championships (NAGCC) Grand Finals at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu.

Quiñanola, who is the lone Cebuano player to lead a division, dropped all the way to fifth place with 7.5 points after losing to Ellyz Bongato of Davao City yesterday.

Before yesterday’s loss, Quiñanola settled for a draw in round eight against Davaoeña Irish Yngayo.

Yngayo now leads the division with nine points.

Bongato and Isabela’s Ruth Vinuya are tied at second place with eight points apiece.

Despite the loss, Quiñanola still has a chance of recovering since there are still six rounds left in the competition.

Laila Camel Nadera, meanwhile, is closing the gap on under-18 girls division leader Women’s FIDE Master (WFM) Allanney Jia Doroy after winning rounds seven and eight yesterday.

Nadera now has 6.5 points while WFM Doroy has 7.5 points.

Nadera managed to stay within striking distance after winning over Vebien Rafales and Frince Ezra Ocliasa yesterday.

Cebuana Kristina Concepcion Belano is running third in the under-10 girls division with 6.5 points, trailing Antonella Berth Racasa and behind Daren Dela Cruz, who have 8.5 and eight points, respectively.

Keith Claire Carlisle Morala continued to plunge in the rankings after nine rounds. The erstwhile second placer dropped to seventh place with six points. Leading the division was Mira Mirano of Aklan with 8.5 points.

Jave Merick Peteros lost grip of the second spot in the under-14 boys after settling for a draw in the seventh and losing in the eighth. Peteros has six points, good for third spot.