Phl claims third place with 17 chess golds

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines wound up third overall in the 12th ASEAN + age-group chess championships, winning 17 gold medals at the Indoor Telaga Kramat Stadium in Tarakan, Indonesia last Sunday.

The Filipinos racked up a total of 61 medals, including 19 silvers and 25 bronzes at the conclusion of the 10-nation competition which featured the leading and rising young players in the region. 

Powerhouse Vietnam bagged the overall title with 101 medals, including 51 golds, 21 silvers and 29 bronzes in the annual event divided into three categories: standard, blitz and rapid.

Host Indonesia settled for runner-up honors with 64 medals, including 17 golds, 25 silvers and 22 bronzes.

“Overall, the Filipino players did very well. They made the country proud with their performance against the best players in the region,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) executive-director GM Jayson Gonzales in his report to NCFP president/chairman Butch Pichay Jr.

The Filipinos won six more gold medals – four individual and two team – in the rapid style competitions at the close of the event Sunday.

Jerad Docena won the gold in the boys’ 14 under with six points, highlighted by his sweep of the first five games.

The other gold medal winners were Cherry Ann Mejia and Janelle Mae Frayna in the girls’ 16-under; Julius Gonzales in the boys’ 10 under; the girls 16 under team and the boys 10 under team.

The silver medal winners were Marie Antoinette San Diego in the girls 12 under; Richelieu Salcedo in the boys 20 under; the boys 10 under team and the girls 14 under team.

San Diego, who won the gold medal in the standard competition, finished with four wins and three draws to settle for second behind WFM Dita Karenza of Indonesia.