Young chess heroes

In the 2008 edition of ASEAN Age-Group Chess Championships, the Philippines sent an 80-member RP Team to compete in Danang, Vietnam.

That group produced a medal haul of 5 gold, 2 silver, and 8 bronze. Of that gold medals, two were produced by Edmundo Legaspi for the Veteran 50 category.

This year, the size of the RP contingent was cut down to 25. It’s interesting to find out the number of medal haul this time.

Let’s look at the top performers last year (kiddies and juniors only):

Gold:
Kyle Emmanuel Ochoa (Open 8 Rapid)
John Ray B. Batucan (Open 12 Standard)
Camacho Chardine Cheradee (Girls 14 Rapid)

Silver:
Garcia Jan Emmanuel (Open 14 Standard)
Prince Mark Aquino (Open 14 Rapid)

Bronze:
Kyle Emmanuel Ochoa (Open 8 Standard)
Alcon John Datu (Open 16 Standard)
Salcedo Richilieu (Open 18 Standard)
Fronda Jan Jodilyn (Girls 14 Standard)
Garcia Jan Emmanuel (Open 14 Rapid)
Revita Samantha Glo (Girls 10 Rapid)
Cherry Ann Mejia (Girls 14 Rapid)
Akiko Charmaine Suede (Girls 16 Rapid)

Notably, no gold medalist in the 2008 edition of Filipino age-groupers made it in this year’s list. Kyle Ochoa is out (he didn't participate in RP’s age-group selection in Aklan) as well as Batucan and Camacho.

Also, last year’s silver medalists are out of the line-up, too. Aquino and Garcia are out this year. The two did not participate, too, in the selection in Aklan.

One of the good things is that other young talents are given the opportunities to show their worth in an international competition.

Several names in the list are fresh, I think. Let’s know our young heroes:

RP's line-up for the 2009 ASEAN+ Age-Group Chess Championship

God bless and good luck to all of them. Go young Pinoys!! Make the Philippines proud!!