MANILA, Philippines---Maganda ang naging resulta ng kampanya ni Chester Neil Reyes ng Pilipinas sa katatapos na FIDE Online Rapid World Cadets & Youth online chess championship Open 16 and under virtually na ginanap sa Tornelo Platform tungo ng pagkopo ng slot sa knock out stage.
Ang 89th seed Reyes (Elo 1837), Incoming Grade 11 pupil ng Nazareth School of National University ay tabla kay third seed International Master Christopher Woojin Yoo (Elo 2466) ng USA sa 41 moves ng Sicilian defense, Closed variation tangan ang white pieces sa Friday's ninth and penultimate round na sinundan ng quick draw kontra kay 11th seed Fide Master Maksim Tsaruk (Elo 2324) ng Belarus sa 10 moves ng Vienna Opening tangan ang white pieces sa Saturday's tenth and final round para makopo ang titulo sa paglikom ng 8.5 points.
"Gusto ko pong pasalamatan mga tumulong po sa akin si Coach Richard A. Villaseran ng King’s Gambit, si GM Nelson Mariano II, mga Kuya Arden at Kuya Narquingel Reyes at ang UNASA at NU chess families ko po sa gabay nina Team Manager Samson Go at NU coach US master Jojo Aquino at coach Jelvis Calvelo, sir Martin Binky Gaticales at Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe," sabi ng amiable Reyes.
"I’m so happy for Chester Neil (Reyes). Well deserved championship for him. This breakthrough will be a very big confidence booster for him and I’m sure bigger things are ahead f of him," sambit naman ni Coach Richard Villaseran, founder ng King’s Gambit Chess School na matiyagang nanonod ng live mula Tornelo Platform.
Habang ang isa pang Filipino entry 106th seed Jeremy Marticio (Elo 1693) ay giniba naman si 48th seed Swarnavo Choudhury (Elo 2079) ng Bangladesh sa 41 moves ng Sicilian defense sa final canto para tumapos ng 7 points, makisalo sa 15th hanggang 24th places.
Ang pambato ng Cabuyao City, Laguna Marticio ay nakalasap ng stinging defeat sa Friday’s ninth round para mawala sa contention. Bigo si Marticio kay 14th seed Fide Master Samant Aditya S (Elo 2297) ng India sa 50 moves ng Ruy Lopez Opening tangan ang black pieces.
Si Reyes ay nasa guidance ni Coach Richard Villaseran, founder ng King’s Gambit Chess School, NU coach US Master Jojo Aquino at NU team manager Samson Go habang si Marticio ay suportado nina Cabuyao City Mayor Mel Gecolea, Cabuyao City Sports Director Jerome Paul Lualhati, Bayanihan sa Cabuyao Executive Director Michael Aranzanso at Cabuyao Chess Committee Chairman & President of Philippine Executive Chess Association Dr. Fred Paez.
Mga nauna ng qualifiers ay sina Lexie Grace Hernandez ng Angeles City, Pampanga (Girls 16 and under), Jersey Marticio ng Cabuyao City, Laguna (Girls 14 and under), April Joy Claros ng Angeles City, Pampanga (Girls 14 and under) at Wayne Diaz Ruiz ng Santa Rosa City, Laguna (Open 14 and under).
Ang National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) sa gabay ni President/Chairman Rep. Prospero “Butch” Arreza Pichay Jr. ay suportado ang kampanya ng Filipino woodpushers na bahagi sa programa na mahasa at ma develop ang outstanding young players.