The Philippines' Mark Jay Bacojo continued his winning run by beating Myanmar’s top gunner Kyaw Myat Aung to remain on top in the on-going 20th Asean + Age Group Chess Championships 2019 at the Golden Mandalay Hotel and Hotel Hazel in Mandalay City, Myanmar on Thursday.
With the win, the pride of Dasmarinas City, Cavite, playing under the banner of Mayor Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga Jr., raise his total 5.5 points on account of five wins and a draw after six games of play in the Under-14 Boys' open division of the Standard competition.
Bacojo is a full-point ahead over Le Tri Kien, Candidate Master Vu Hoang Gia Bao, Candidate Master Nguyen Quoc Hy and Vo Pham Thien Phuc of Vietnam who tote 4.5 points each.
Earlier, Bacojo defeated Khant Zin Hein of Myanmar in Round 1, Le Tri Kien of Vietnam in Round 2, Nguyen Duc Sang of Vietnam in Round 3, countryman Chester Neil Reyes in Round 4, split the point with Mekarapiruk Chawit of Thailand in Round 5 before beating Kyaw Myat Aung of Myanmar in Round 6.
Other Filipino bets in the Under-14 Boys' open division of the Standard competition are Chester Neil Reyes of Rodriguez, Rizal (3.5 points), Jerish John Velarde of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu (3.5 points) and Emcel Jules Gadut of Candon City, Ilocos Sur (3.0 points).
Sharing the limelight are Kaye Lalaine Regidor of Santa, Rosa, Laguna and Mecel Angela Gadut of Candon City, Ilocos Sur who brought down Huynh Phuc Minh Phuong and Mai Hieu Linh of Vietnam in the Under-10 Girls' division.
The twin wins enabled Regidor and Gadut to climb at 2nd to 3rd placers with 4.5 points apiece. Bonjoure Fille Suyamin of General Trias City, Cavite subdued Le Dang Bao Ngoc of Vietnam to notch 3.0 points and was tied at 12th place.Ho Ngoc Vy of Vietnam bested compatriot Dang Le Xuan Hien to grabs the lead with 5.5 points in the Under-10 Girls' division.
Meanwhile, Philippine chess wizards Oshrie Jhames Reyes of Dila Dila, Santa Rita, Pampanga, Al-Basher "Basty" Buto of Cainta, Rizal and Woman Fide Master Antonella Berthe Racasa of Mandaluyong City fell short in their respective division.
The seven-years-old Oshrie Jhames, a Grade 3 pupil of GNC Montessori in Guagua, Pampanga yielded to Tran Bao Minh of Vietnam in the Under-8 Boys' open division; Buto a grade 4 pupil of Faith Christian School was beaten by Candidate Master Pham Tran Gia Phuc of Vietnam in the Under-10 Boys' open division while the 12-years-old Racasa of Homeschool Global bowed to Woman Candidate Master Nguyen Hoang Thai Ngoc of Vietnam in the Under-12 Girls' division.-Marlon Bernardino-