RP bets vie in Asian U-16 chess

National juniors champion John Paul Gomez and Woman FIDE Master Arianne Bo Caoili will spearhead a crack Philippine contingent against the continent’s best in the Asian Under-16 Chess Championships slated Dec. 11-22 in Bagac, Bataan.

Gomez and Caoili, along with 32 other Pinoy chessers, will be pitting their skills and talent against 16 top youthful players from Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Vietnam, Mongolia and Singapore in a 9-round robin tournament.

Zander Severino, Julio Catalino Sadorra and National Master Oliver Barbosa, who make up the core of the country’s top kiddie players, are also in the fold as well as regional qualifiers Roderick Nava, Dino Ballecer, Vic Neil Villanueva, Von Arbie Balbosa, Christian Arroyo, Lorjon Limbohan, Joel Valdez Jr., Jerommel Gabriel, Mark Anthony Yabut, Onar Bagalacsa and Adrian Orozco for the boys’ category.

Joining Caoili in the girls’ side are Danielle Day Estrada, Anna Paula Castillo, Joanna Marie Valdez, Anne Sangalang, Loreshyl Cuizon, Rowela Acedo, Shercila Cua, Ma. Zayrah dela Cruz and Jahelle Olos, who are all making their international debut in the event staged by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

All participants will be receiving Elo ratings while the winner in both boys’ and girls’ categories will be awarded a FIDE master title. An international master norm also awaits a solo champion for the boys’ event.

Meanwhile, the Greenhills Shopping Center non-master Christmas chess bonanza will be held Sunday at the PCIBank Arcade inside the GSC complex in San Juan.

Open to all untitled players, the 7-round Swiss system event is staking a total prize of P20,000 and gift certificates with the winner getting the top P4,000 purse plus P1,000 worth of groceries. The second placer will receive P3,000 and the third finisher P2,000.

Also on tap in the one-day tournament, supported by Coca-Cola, Pilipinas Shell, Pascual Laboratories, Jacobs Crackers, Unimart Supermarket, Maxims, Gloria Maris and Jollibee Crossroad.

Deadline for listup is on Thursday. For details, contact Lito Concepcion and Noemi Tabamo at tel. Nos. 721-0572, 721-0574 or 726-4476.