by Marlon Bernardino and Caren D. Salinillas
PANIQUI, Tarlac---Philippine chess wizard Erich Ross Micua of Rosales, Pangasinan pocketed the top honors in the Paniqui Kiddies Chess Tournament 2018 held at the Barangay Hall of Barangay Estacion, Paniqui, Tarlac last Saturday, March 10, 2018.

The 12-year-old Micua, a Grade 6 pupil of Calanutan Elementary School in Rosales, Pangasinan collected five points on five wins and a loss to win the six-round tournament backed up by Santillan Family.

Erich Ross who honed her skills under the guidance of prominent chess coach/trainer Rosulo Vigilia Cabusora Jr., a regional sales coordinator of Prima Sassy Belle Corporation, scored victories over Lira Placer in the first round, June Kenneth Ocampo in the second round and Christian Erickson Costuna in the third round but was yielded to Alfred Miranda Jr. in the fourth round.

Erich Ross bounced back in contention by beating Hariom Das Arceo in the fifth round and Harerama Dasi Arceo in the sixth and final round.

Actually, Erich Ross and Christian Erickson , both tallied 5.0 points apiece, however the former (Erich Ross) got the title via superior quotient. Miranda Jr. placed third with 4.5 points. Miranda Jr., the pride of Paniqui, Tarlac, the only player who beat Erich Ross in the fourth round in this 20 minutes plus three seconds increment rapid time control format, organized by Alfred Miranda with Chief Arbiter is Alberto Arellano.

The 2017 DepEd provincial meet silver medallist Erich Ross is eyeing to follow the foot step of her idol Woman Fide Master Samantha Glo Revita and Princess Mae Sombrito of Rosales, Pangasinan.-Marlon Bernardino and Caren D. Salinillas.-