by Marlon Bernardino
 TANGERANG, Indonesia---Malakas na sinimulan nina Woman National Master Antonella Berthe "Tonelle" Racasa at National Master Ivan Travis Cu ang kanilang kampanya sa opening round ng BKD Fide Rated International Open Chess Tournament Under 21 Biyernes na ginanap dito sa Gunadarma University Karawaci sa Tanggerang-Indonesia.

Pinasuko ni Racasa ng Mandaluyong City si Muhammad Tedisyah Arya ng Indonesia matapos ang 30 moves ng Modern defense habang angat naman ang San Juan ace Cu kontra kay Tristan Haidar ng Indonesia matapos ang 33 moves ng Modern Benoni defense
“The first round is one of the toughest rounds in any tournament. It usually sets the tone of how you’re going to perform,” sabi ni Mr. Robert Racasa, father/coach ni WNM Antonella.

"Iam so happy to hurdle my first round assignment," sabi ng 15-year-old WNM Antonella,  student ng Victory Christian International School.
"We hope to perform well in this event and gain some ElO rating points,"  dagdag ng 14-year-old Cu, Grade 8 student ng Xavier School.

Suportado ng Go for Gold PH ang kampanya ni NM Ivan habang tuulong naman kay WNM Antonella ay sina ALC Group of Companies Chairman and CEO D. Edgard A. Cabangon at Sir Raffy Garcia of Pasig Rotary Club.

HIndi naman pinalad ang isa pang Filipino entry Jeanne Marie Arcinue ng Cavite matapos matalo kay top seed Dziththauly Ramadhan ng Indonesia na may elo rating 2208.

Nagpakitang gilas din sina FM Kemas Ade Krisna Mausyach Suri,  WFM Samantha Edithso at WFM Rasyid Nur Aini ng Indonesia at WCM Jia-Tien Chua ngMalaysia matapos manalo sa first round.

Ang event na ito ay inorganisa ng BKD Chess Club na under auspices ng Indonesian Chess Federation.
Ang Tournament director ay si FM Muhammad Novian Siregar habang ang chief arbiter ay si IA Bong Bunawan.-Marlon Bernardino-