Turqueza, Docena pace Davao chess

DAVAO City, Philippines  – Mari Joseph Turqueza and Jedara Docena continued their smashing performances in the 2011 Davao City Mayor Inday Sarah Duterte Cup-National Age-Group chess championships at the Gaisano Mall.

Turqueza, one of the country’ s brightest young players, outwitted Richelieu Salcedo in the fourth round and Kevin Mirano in the fifth round to keep the solo lead with a perfect record of five wins in as many matches in the centerpiece boys 20-and-under age category.

A mainstay of the V. Luna Chess Club, Turqueza is a full point ahead of Joey Albert Florendo, Philip John Leyson, Neptali Batucan III and Salcedo.

Florendo and Batucan battled to a draw, Leyson outclassed Jervell Andoy and Salcedo downed Ruel Canaveras to stay in the hunt for the title and the P5,000 cash prize.

Top seed Sheider Nebato was held to a draw by John Michael Parrenas to remain in the lower half of the standings with only 2.5 points to show in five rounds.

Docena, on the other hand, drew with Mary Israel Palero in the third round and won over Angelina Mortos the following round to keep a share of the lead in the girls 20-under category.

Docena, the highest-rated player in the 24-player field, is now tied with Palero with 3.5 points in four rounds.

Palero overpowered Eibtizam Nahudan to join Docena in the lead.

Mikee Charlene Suede humbled sister Akiko Charaine Suede, Jessa Marie Balbona outplayed Irene Rose Aldovino and Jessamarie Bacsal whipped Nikki Erica Yngayo to keep their hopes alive.

Sharing the limelight were Dominique Lagula, who halved the point with Kline Surposa in the fourth round and won over Vince Angelo Medina in the fifth round to grab the solo lead in the boys 16-under; Jerad Docena, who humbled Austin Jacob Literatus and Carlo Caranyagan to assume the lead in the boys 14-under.

Daryl Unix Samantila outplayed Jeffu Dorog and Arjyn Hijastro to seize control in the boys 12-under. Julius Gonzales bested Sunail Sekak and Jeremy Pepito to take command in the boys 10-under and Ronald Canino outsteadied Joseph Sanchez and Joshua Sanchez to wrest the upperhand in the boys 8-under.

In the girls division, Cherry Ann Mejia and Janelle Mae Frayna fought to a draw to share the lead in the girls 16 under; Mira Mirano demolished Crisseline Alcarz to take the headstart in the girls 14 under; Marie Antoinette San Diego overwhelmed Laila Nadera to pull away in the girls 12 under; Jesca Docena drubbed Vanessa Magno to assume command in the girls 10 under; and Irish Yngayo beat Jerlyn Mae San Dieog to grab the lead in the girls 8 under.

The annual tournament is being organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), headed by president/chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay and secretary-general and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” ;Tolentino, in cooperation with the Davao City govenrment, led by Mayor Inday Sarah Duterte.

NCFP executive director Willie Abalos said trophies and cash prizes are at stake in the tournament, as well as the right to represent the country in the ASEAN + age-group tournament in Tarakan, Indonesia on June 11-20.

The cash prizes are P5,000 to the champion, P2,500 to the runner-up, P1,500 to the third placer, P1,000 to the fourth placer and P500 to the fifth placer.

James Infiesto is the supervising arbiter.

Assisting Infiesto are Renato Abalos, Edmon Prado, Ralph Caluya and Wilfredo Neri.