2011 Pangasinan Age-Group Chess Championship

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN-Julius Gonzales of Marikina City, Fide Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia of Manila, Maria Antoinette San Diego of Dasmarinas, Cavite and Woman Fide Master Cherry Ann Mejia of Binmaley, Pangasinan emerged winners in Tuesday's 2011 National Age Group Chess Championship here at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Complex Gymnasium.

The 9-years-old Gonzales whose stint here backed up by Marikina City mayor Del de Guzman and representative Miro Quimbo defeated Japheth Jeuel Guico of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro in the seventh and final round to capture the Boys 10 years old and under category tiara.

" Nagbunga din y'ung ginawa naming paghahanda nina coach Rudy (Ibanez)," said Gonzales, a member of Marikina Age Group Team together with Haince Patrick de Leon of Marist School, a runner-up in Boys 12 years old and under category , Ynna Sophia Canape, co-champion in the Girls 14 years old and under category, and rising star Vincent Frank Nasiad. aside from Canape, also winners in the Girls 14 years old and under category were Mary Joyce Fuerte of Letran College and Merlene Membrere of La Union who tote 5.5 points each.

The incoming freshman of Arellano University Gonzales , under the titelage of NM Rudy Ibanez tallied 6 points in this event organized by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's president/chairman Prospero ‘Butch’ Pichay Jr. and hosted by and suported by Pangasinan governor Amado T. Espino Jr. in close cooperation with Pangasinan Chess Federation which attracted 272 woodpushers.

With this feat, Gonzales went home the top prize P5,000 plus trophy. Gov. Espino, Board Member Ranjit Shahani, Sports Director Modesto Operania, tournament director and NCFP grassroot development director GM Jayson Gonzales, Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre and Asia's first International Master Rodolfo Tan Cardoso who hails from Alaminos, Pangasinan led the closing rites.

"Todo ang suporta ko sa chess dahil alam ko na malaki ang tsansa ng mga Pilipino na maging mahusay sa larangang ito," said governor Espino who led the awarding ceremony.
In the under 16 boys, Garcia from Ateneo de Manila University under former olympian IM Idelfonso Datu drew with Aldous Roy Coronel of San Sebastian College in the final round to raised his total 6.5 points and pocket the P10,000 top prize and trophyand earn the right to represent the country in the coming Asian Youth chess championships scheduled in Subic next month.

San Diego and Mejia, both loring the Girls 12 and under and 16 and under division, respectively. San Diego notch 6.5 points enroute the title. Tournament favorite runner-Samantha Glo Revita of Rosales, Pangasinan settled second with 6 points.

Mejia, on the other hand drew with Ruth Aubrey de Guzman of Canossa City of Sta. Rosa in the final round to take home the title. Tied at 2nd to 3rd placers are Janelle Mae Frayna of Far Eastern University (FEU) and Brena Mae Membrere of La Union with 5.5 points apiece while de Guzman satisfied 4th position with 5 points.

Other winners were Chardine Cheradee Camacho of Aringay, La Union (18 under), Fiona Geeweneth Guirhem (10 under), and Jerlyn Mae San Diego of Dasmarinas, Cavite (8-under) in the girls category, FM John Alcon Datu of Caloocan (18 under), Giovanni Mejia of La Salle Green Hills (14 under), Daryl Unix Samantilla of Adamson University (12 under) and Khulene Lord dela Cruz of Laoag, La Union (8-under) in the boys division. Dela Cruz coach is national arbiter Rosulo Cabusora Jr.

The five-day NCFP event supervised by International arbiters Gene Poliarco, Erwin Carag and Elias Lao, national arbiter Alex Dinoy, regional arbiters Dick Gicain, Gatpayo Luz, Milo Samaniego, Ron Vergara, Roberto Bautista, Roy Madayag and Francisco German.

SUMMARY OF AGE-GROUP CHAMPIONS
(As posted by Anthony Navarro over Barangay Wesley's page at chessgames.com, courtesy of 86th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Coach of the Year NM/IA Erwin Carag and Mr. Rey Yaon of Laguna).

U-18 Boys/ Girls
NM Alcon Jon Datu /WFM Cheradee Camacho (both Ateneo)

U-16 Boys / Girls
FM Jan Garcia(Ateneo) / WFM Cherry Ann Mejia (Letran HS/Incoming La Salle)

U-14 Boys / Girls
Giovanni Mejia (LSGH) / Mary Joyce Fuerte

U-12 Boys / Girls
Daryl Samantila (Adamson) / Antoinette San Diego (Dasma,Cavite)

U-10 Boys / Girls
Julius Gonzales (Marikina) / Fiona Gurheim

U-8 Boys / Girls
Khulene Dela Cruz (4.5 yrs)/Jerlyn San Diego (5.5 yrs)