RHENZI Kyle Sevillano became the lone Cebuano gold medalist in the 19th ASEAN+ Age Groups Chess in Davao City after topping the boys’ under-20 blitz competition.
The 20-year-old Far Eastern University varsity player, who is the nephew of Cebuano Grand Master (GM) Enrico Sevillano, finished his campaign in the blitz division with 6.5 points after nine rounds. He, along with Vietnamese Minh Hieu Pham and fellow Filipino International Master (IM) Paulo Bersamino, were tied with 6.5 points but Sevillano earned a higher tie-break score to win the gold.
Sevillano also salvaged a bronze medal in the seven-round rapid competition after scoring 5.0 points. Vietnamese Huynh Tuan Hai Nguyen won the gold medal while Bersamino settled for the silver medal.
Another Cebuano bagged a medal in the blitz competition courtesy of former University of San Carlos-Basic Education standout Vic Glysen Derotas, who is now a varsity player of the National University.
The 18-year-old Derotas bagged a silver in the girls’ under-18 competition with 6.5 points.
Women’s Fide Master (WFM) Allaney Jia Doroy topped the category with 7.0 points.
Candidate Master Jerish John Velarde added a third medal in the tournament by snatching a bronze in the boys’ under-12 blitz competition after scoring 6.5 points.
Velarde, the pride of Lapu-Lapu City, already bagged a silver in the standard division and another silver in the team event of the same division.