Ang Filipino FM na si Christian Gian Karlo Arca sa ikatlong puwesto sa FIDE World Youth Chess Championship
ni Marlon Bernardino
Montesilvano, Italy---Nasukol ng Filipino FIDE Master na si Christian Gian Karlo Arca ang Norwegian chesser na si Isak Vinh Brattgjerd sa 57 galaw ng Caro-Kann Defense upang lumikha ng four-way tie para sa ikatlong puwesto pagkatapos ng ikaanim na round ng FIDE World Youth Chess Championship noong Sabado sa Pala Dean Martin centro congressi sa Montesilvano, Italy.

Itinaas ni Arca ang kanyang kabuuang 5.0 puntos (4 na panalo at 2 tabla), ang parehong output ni FIDE Master Magnus Ermitsch ng Germany, FIDE Master Edgar Mamedov ng Kazakhstan at FIDE Master Pawel Sowinski ng Poland sa Boys under-14 section.

Tinalo ni Ermitsch si International Master Artem Imuskov, natalo ni Mamedov si FIDE Master Daniel Tabuenca Mendataurigoitia ng Spain habang tinalo ni Sowinski si Sultanbeibarys Dumanuly ng Kazakhstan.
Sina FIDE Master Pham Tran Gia Phuc ng Vietnam at International Master Savva Vetokhin ng Russia naman ay tinalo ang kani-kanilang mga kalaban para makisalo sa nangungunang puwesto na may tig-5.5 puntos.
Tinalo ni Pham si FIDE Master Andrej Ljepic ng Serbia habang pinabagsak ni Vetokhin si FIDE Master Nicolas Perossa ng Italy.

Samantala, si FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo ng Pilipinas ay nakipag-draw kay Grandmaster Volodar Murzin ng Russia sa 44 na galaw ng Giuco Piano Opening upang umiskor ng 4.5 puntos sa account ng 4 na panalo, 1 tabla at 1 talo upang manatili sa pagtatalo sa seksyon ng Boys under-18 .

Kaya, umakyat si Bacojo mula 6th hanggang 18th placers.
Binasag ni International Master Aleksey Grebnev ng Russia si FIDE Master Aron Pasti ng Hungary sa isang labanan ng mga heavyweights upang kunin ang solong liderato.
Grebnev, now has 5.5 points in six outings, half point ahead over International Master Aldiyar Ansat of Kazakhstan, FIDE Master Konstantin Popov of Russia, International Master M Ilamparthi A R of India and FIDE Master Agoston Juhasz of Hungary who totes 5.0 points each.
The Dasmariñas City, Cavite resident Arca and Bacojo, both members of the star-studded Dasmariñas Chess Academy of Mayor Jenny Barzaga, Rep. Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga Jr. and national coach FIDE Master Roel Abelgas, will go up against Sowinski and FIDE Master Nguyen Quoc Hy of Vietnam, respectively in Monday's seventh round (Sunday is rest day).
"We are hoping that FM Christian Gian Karlo Arca and FM Mark Jay Bacojo can sustain the momentum in the following round," said Arena Grandmaster Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr., Philippine Delegation Head who is also part of the coaching staff that includes Woman Fide Master Shaina Mae Mendoza and Arena FIDE Master Ederwin Estavillo.
In the distaff side, Jirah Floravie Cutiyog bested Jolie Huang of the USA in 42 moves of Sicilian Defense to raise his total 4.0 points ( 3 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss) in the Girls under-14 section.
Woman National Master Bonjoure Fille Suyamin drew with Guadalupe Montano Vicente of Mexico in 41 moves of King's Indian Defense to score 3.5 points (3 wins, 1 draw and 2 loses) in the Girls under-14 section.
Woman National Master Kaye Lalaine Regidor nipped Woman Candidate Master Lia-Alexandra Maria of Romania in 65 moves of Sicilian Defense, Alapin Variation to score 4.0 points (4 wins and 2 draws) in the Girls under-16 section.
However, Woman National Master Franchesca Largo was beaten by Woman Fide Master Ana Petricenco of Moldova in 23 moves of Ruy Lopez Opening and got stuck at 3.5 points (3 wins, 1 draw and 2 loses) in the Girls under-18 section.
In other matches, Mark Gabriel Usman waylaid Melvin Ral Lustig of Sweden, Charly Jhon Yamson yielded to Giorgi Chanturia of Georgia, National Master Oscar Joseph Cantela was beaten by FIDE Master Adrian Soderstrom of Sweden, Anica Shey Dimatangihan split the point with Alexia Andries of Romania and Maureinn Lepaopao loss to Lena Antenreiter of Austria.
Usman (3 points in the Boys under-14 section), Yamson (2 points Boys under-14 section), Cantela (2 points Boys under-16 section), Dimatangihan (3 points in the Girls under-14 section) and Lepaopao (1 point in the Girls under-14 section).
The Philippine chess team’s campaign in the FIDE World Youth Chess Championship is backed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, headed by its chairman and president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
It is also supported by Cavite Vice Governor Athena Bryana Delgado Tolentino, General Trias City, Cavite Mayor Luis "Jon Jon" Ferrer IV, Vice Mayor Jonas Glyn Porto Labuguen and OIC City Sports Jon Jon Comandante. -Marlon Bernardino-