by Marlon Bernardino
Manila---Coach Richard Villaseran's King's Gambit Online Chess School showed why it is one of the leading chess academies in the country where five of its players, National Master Michael Jan Stephen Rosalem Inigo of Bayawan, Negros Oriental, National Master Keith Adriane Ilar of El Salvador, Misamis Oriental, Pat Ferdolf Macabulos of Bataan, Ralz Devibar of Samal, Davao and Arwin Martinez of Cagayan de oro City.
"I'm proud of the players, they really worked hard for these achievements. We could have qualified more players but game breaks like rules and tiebreaks did not favor some of them. But what's good about these 5 qualifiers is that all of them are medal contenders", said Coach Villaseran.
NM Ilar qualified by taking the silver medal in the NMVRAA Standard completion, while NM Inigo took home the gold medal in the CVIRAA to force an armageddon playoff for the 2nd slot he won. Both qualify for Highschool categories.
"I am very proud of my son NM Michael Jan Stephen Inigo for his latest achievement. Thank you very much for continuing to train my son with Coach Richard Villaseran," said proud mother Jeanshen Rosalem.
Devibar brought home 3 gold medals in the DVRAA while Macabulos and Martinez brought home silver medals in their respective meets to join Devibar as Palarong Pambansa qualifiers in the elementary division.
Aside from the upcoming Palarong Pambansa to be held in July in Cebu, Coach Villaseran's young chess students are also preparing for important tournaments such as the National Age Group, National Juniors, ASEAN Age Group and Eastern Asia Juniors. Other King's Gambit players vying for the title in these prestigious chess competitions are Woman National Master Antonella Berthe "Tonelle" Racasa, Vincent Ryu Dimayuga, Chester Acuyong, National Master John Cyrus Borce and sister Cyriene , Joriel, Christian Mendoza, Tiv Omangay, James Yap , Jessielou Sarias, Keziah Alvero, Muellene Ymber Babao, Daren Corro, Artjoe Capatan, Maroc Sandido, Kristoff Bautista, and others.-Marlon Bernardino-
Pictured in this photo are Coach Richard Villaseran of King's Gambit Online Chess School and National Master Michael Jan Stephen Rosalem Inigo of Bayawan, Negros Oriental