by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines---Ang fifteen-year-old na si Lexie Grace Hernandez ng Angeles City, Pampanga ang pinaka bagong Woman National Master (WNM) ng Pilipinas matapos ag reyna sa 2021 National Age Group Hybrid Chess Championships Grandfinals Under-16 division na ginanap sa online via Tornelo platform mula Hunyo 22 hanggang 25, 2021.

Si Hernandez na isang Grade 9 student ng Holy Angel University (HAU) sa Angeles City, Pampanga na nasa gabay nina Sports coordinator Ryan Sabinian, HAU Coach Daril Parales at Angeles City Coach Jose "Fer" Camaya ay nakaipon ng 9 points mula nine wins at two loses para magkampeon sa torneong ito na ipinatupad ang classical time control na single round-robin format.

Naitarak ni Hernandez ang malaking panalo kontra kina Glysdi Santos Aghon sa first round, Woman Fide Master (WFM) Jerlyn Mae San Diego sa second round, Rinoa Marie Sadey sa third round, Ayana Nicole Usman sa fourth round, Angela Joelle San Luis sa fifth round, Jamelin Ruth Lim sa sixth round, Princes Louise Oncita sa seventh round, Francesha Largo sa eight round at Karol Josef De Guia sa tenth round.

Natamo niya pagkatalo sa kamay ni Samantha Babol Umayan sa ninth round at Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian sa eleventh at final round.
Tumapos si Sebastian ng second place na may 8.5 points kasunod ang third placer na si Lim na may 7.5 points.

Sa kanyang latest feat ay natamo ni Hernandez ang outright WNM title, P3,000 top purse at nakatakdang katawanin ang bansa sa Asian at World Age Group events bago matapos ang taong ito.

Lubos naman ang kagalakan ng long-time supporter ni Lexie sa magandang showing ng young chess wizards sa nasabing kumpetisyon.
"Congratulations on your well-deserve victory newly-minted WNM (Lexie Grace) Hernandez. Lexie’s achievement is all the more notable and exemplary given the challenges that everyone-most especially chess players like her and her fellow competitors—have had to face gruelling qualifying round to advance in the Grandfinals," sabi ni Sportsman Jimmy Reyes, isa sa board of directors ng Bayanihan Chess Club sa magiting na pamumuno nina co-founding chairman Dr. Joe Balinas at Engr. Antonio "Uncle Paps" Balinas.

Inorganisa ng National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP)sa pakikipagtulungan ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) at ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). Ang Tournament Director ay si NCFP Chief Operating Officer Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales kung saan ang Chief Arbiter ay si IA Reden Cruz an ang assistant ay sina FNA Rafael Cayanan at FNA Gabriel Prevandos. -Marlon Bernardino-.