THE Philippines won four gold medals and two silver medals at the Thailand Pattaya Youth Chess Championship 2018 held in Bay Beach Resort Pattaya, Banglamung, Chin Buried in Pattaya, Thailand on October 20 to 24, 2018.
Clark Jemuel Cabatian of General Trias City Chess Club and Gio Troy Ventura of Dasmariñas Chess Academy carried the good fight for Young PH woodpushers in the standard time control format.
Cabatian toppled Thunpisit Pa-In of Thailand in the final round to win the nine-round tournament, Under 8 category.
The 8 years old Cabatian, a grade 3 pupil of John Isabel Learning Center Inc. in General Trias City, Cavite collected 7.5 points on seven wins, one loss and one draw.
Ventura, on the other hand, had a better 47.5 tie break points against 46.5 of Arena International Master (AIM) Bhattacherjee Aayush of India to topped the Under 12 division.
The 11 years old Ventura, grade 6 student of Francisco E. Barzaga Memorial School in Dasmariñas City, Cavite tallied 8 points on seven wins and two draws.
Nine years old Relghie Columna, grade 4 pupil of John Isabel Learning Center Inc. and 9 years old Bonjoure Fille Suyamin, grade 3 pupil of Del Rosario Christian Institute in General Trias City, Cavite also brought home two gold medals in the boys and girls under 10 division, respectively.
9 Years old Jirah floravie Cutiyog, grade 4 pupil of Bethel Academy scored 5.5 points to nail the country’s silver medal in the girls under 10 while 11 years old Geraldine Mae Camarines, grade 6 pupil of Bethel Academy also notch 5.5 points to grabbed the silver medal in the girls under 12.
The team is headed by Ms. Baby Lyn Kempiz of City Mayor’s Office of General Trias City, Cavite and PH coach Ederwin Estavillo, who is also the president of the General Trias City Chess Club.
The team participated through the efforts of Fide Arbiter Red Dumuk, the executive director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines with support from local government of General Trias City, Cavite led by Mayor Antonio “Ony” Ferrer and Congressman Luis “Jon-jon” Ferrer and local government of Dasmariñas City, Cavite headed by Mayor Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga Jr. and Congresswoman Jenny Barzaga as well the Philippine Sports Commission.
PH coach Ederwin Estavillo who is also the president of General Trias City Cavite Chess Club congratulated the Team and lauded the General Trias City Chess Club and Dasmariñas Chess Academy for tirelessly pursuing a stronger presence for the country in international chess competitions. “Our young chess wizards made us proud today but I hope the claps and cheers for them in the future would come from Filipinos they’ve helped improved lives through their outstanding chess abilities,” Estavillo added.
The other Filipino contestants were Carlhynne Mae Maneja of Maria Cristina Brando School, Earl Siegfrid Sta Maria of Governor Ferrer Memorial National High School San Francisco Annex, Geraldine Mae Camarines of Bethel Academy, Keiza Ruth Libo -on of Academia de Julia Victoria, Josh Edmar Castro of Parochial School, Paolo Estavillo of Collegio de San Francisco, Jeanelle Cabatian of Collegio de San Francisco, Janmyl Dilan Tisado of St.John Academy, Jireh Dan Jaime Cutiyog of Bethel Academy and Dan Japhet Liboon of Academia de Julia Victoria of Imus Cavite.
The participating countries and regions were China, India, Ireland, Australia, Korea, Singapore, Mongolia, Myanmar, Thailand and the Philippines.-Marlon Bernardino-