by Marlon Bernardino
JOHN MARVIN MICIANO of Davao City scored back-to-back wins after beating fellow Fide Master (FM) Xu Zhihang of China in the 5th round of the Asian Youth Chess Championships Standard event on Wednesday at the Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Miciano, the pride of Far Eastern University (FEU) chess team of multi-titled coach GM Jayson Gonzales, earlier beat FM Guha Mitrabha of India in the fourth round of the Under-18 division.
Miciano remained on top with perfect five points in five outings, full point ahead over solo second place Arya Omidi of Iran who notch 4.0 points. Omida, who bowed to Miciano in the third round, bounced back in contention by beating another Filipino entry Daniel Quizon of Dasmariñas City, Cavite in Round 4 and Timur Nurzhanov of Kazakhstan in Round 5.
Quizon, the top player of Dasmariñas Chess Academy put up by Dasmariñas City, Cavite mayor Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga and congresswoman Jenny Barzaga, meantime crushed FM Jeet Jain of India in Round 5 to secure 3.5 points and create a five-way tie for third in the company of Mitrabha, FM Wong Yinn Long of Malaysia, CM Thilakarathne G M H of Sri-Lanka and CM Le Minh Hoang of Vietnam.
In Thursday's sixth round, Miciano playing black with Hoang in Board 1, Omida playing white against Guha in Board 2 and Quizon will employ black pieces against Thilakarathne G M H in Board 3.
In the Under-12 division, Mark Jay Bacojo of Dasmariñas City, Cavite, another product of Dasmariñas City, Cavite mayor Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga and congresswoman Jenny Barzaga, halved the point with CM Nguyen Quoc Hy of Vietnam in Round 4 then subdued CM Arfan Aditya Bagus of Indonesia in Round 5.
Bacojo tallied 4.5 points, the same output of CM Nguyen Quoc Hy, winner over Pranesh M of India in Round 5.
CM Gukesh D of India still on top with perfect 5.0 points. He beat CM Deng Yu Dong Michael in Round 4 and Daneshvar Bardiya of Iran in Round 5.
Jerish John Velarde of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu bowed to Pranesh M of India in Round 4 but toppled Promchan Noppakun of Thailand in Round 5.
Velarde, playing under the banner of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu mayor Paz Radaza, a Grade 5 pupil of Marie Ernestine School, who bagged the country's only bronze medal during the rapid competition tallied 3.0 points after five games of play.
Other member of the Philippine age group team were Michael Concio Jr. of Dasmariñas City, Cavite (3 pts./Under-16), Gal Brien Palasigue of Taytay, Rizal (2.5 pts./Under-16),Jerome Angelo Aragones of Bacoor, Cavite (3 pts./Under-14), Al-Basher "Basty" Buto of Cainta, Rizal (3.5 pts./Under-8); Daren dela Cruz of Dasmariñas, Cavite, (3 pts./ Girls 10 and under), Antonella Berthe Racasa of Marikina City (1.5 pts./ Girls 12 and under), Jerlyn Mae San Diego of Dasmariñas, Cavite (3 pts./ Girls 14 and under), Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian of Kalinga-Apayao (1.0 pt/ Girls 16 and under), WCM Kylen Joy Mordido of Dasmariñas City (3.0 pts./ Girls 8 and under).
Delegation head is International Master (IM) Roel Abelgas while head coach is International Master (IM) Yves Rañola. The Philippine age group team is also supported by sportsman Red Dumuk, the executive director and deputy secretary-general of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by It's Chairman/President Rep. Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Secretary-General Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. and Treasurer Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe.-Marlon Bernardino-