Perpetual Help chessers top contenders in national age group tiff

MANILA, Philippines — University of Perpetual Help System Dalta standouts Jerome Aragones, Eric Labog Jr. and Carl Zirex Sato will be the players to watch when the Grand Finals of the Gov. Amor Deloso National Age Group Chess Championships comes off the wraps April 4 at the Zambales Sports Complex in Iba, Zambales.

Sato made it through by topping the premier boys Under-20 division while Aragones and Labog reigned supreme in the Under-16 and Under-18 sections in the Luzon qualifiers held in Dasmariñas, Cavite last week.

Joining the three are Perpetual Help teammates Ma. Angela Illustre, who won the girls’ U20 plum, and John Marx Anastacio, who wound up third in the boys’ U20 class.

Interestingly, Labog will represent Calabarzon in the Palarong Pambansa set April 27-May 4 in Davao City.

The six-day tournament, which will be ushered in by Gov. Deloso and Rep.Cheryl Deloso, National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Butch Pichay and Philippine Sports Commission chair Butch Ramirez, have drawn 168 participants, who all made it through the qualifying stages.

Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre and the country’s first Woman GM Janelle Mae Frayna are also gracing the opener.

The top three in all 14 divisions – boys and girls’ U20, U18, U16, U14, U12, U10 and U8 – will represent the country in the ASEAN Age Group Championship in Myanmar in June where FIDE Master, International Master and GM norms are at stake.