2011 Asian Youth Chess Championships

The Philippines will be under the spotlight once again - at least in Asia - for the staging of the 2011 Asian Youth Chess Championships that will run from May 14 to 22 in Subic.

It's therefore an opportunity for the country to showcase its excellence in hosting an international event of this magnitude.

At least 254 players from 18 countries will flock to Subic for the quest of their respective national pride.

Imagine 18 countries watching out for the results - and games - from this event, and whose satisfaction depends on how the host, the Philippines, handles the conduct and promotion of this tournament.

	COUNTRIES	NO. OF PLAYERS
1	AUS	2
2	BRU	2
3	CHN	11
4	INA	1
5	IND	44
6	IRI	20
7	KAZ	11
8	KOR	12
9	KYGZ	10
10	MAC	13
11	MAS	16
12	MGL	17
13	PHI	24
14	SIN	2
15	THAI	3
16	UZB	15
17	VIE	31
18	SRI	20
		254

As I see it, more than our players need to do their best to showcase their talents against their Asian counterparts, it would be a higher imperative for the country, as a host, to run the event at its best.

The Asian chess community would be too glad, I guess, if the host provides a live coverage of the games even of the top board only.

If that's not possible, at least make the PGNs of the games available the soonest as possible after the games.

Please have the Asian chess audience some games to see.

I know that this wish isn't that easy, especially with the death of former National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Executive Director Willy Abalos. Let us all hope and pray that the demise of Abalos would not greatly affect the operations of NCFP in hosting this event. (Again, condolences to his family and relatives.)

As of today, at least 24 Pinoy players have already been listed to see action in this tournament. They are mainly the Top 2 finishers in each age category in National Age-Group Championships that was held in Pangasinan.

More names, I guess, will be added to the list of Pinoy campaigners, particularly those who performed well in the National Age Group and National Juniors tournaments held recently in Davao City.

Here are the initial list of Pinoy campaigners:
B10 GONZALES Julius
B10 RILLORAZA Istraelito
B12 SAMANTILA Daryl Unix
B12 DE LEON Haince Patrick
B14 MEJIA Giovanni
B14 DOCENA Jerad
B16 GARCIA Jan Emmanuel
B16 EVANGELISTA Paul Robert
B18 DATU Alcon John
B18 PASCUA Haridas
B8 DELA CRUZ Khulene Lord
B8 GUTIERREZ Dennis III
G10 GUIRHEM Fiona Geeweneth
G10 PALAMING Regyne
G12 SAN DIEGO Marie Antoinette
G12 REVITA Samantha Glo
G14 FUERTE Mary Joyce
G14 MEMBRERE Merlene
G16 WFM MEJIA Cherry Ann
G16 FRAYNA Janelle Mae
G18 CAMACHO Chardine Cheradee
G18 LAZ Christine Joyce
G8 DE GUZMAN Rheam Arah
G8 SAN DIEGO Jerlyn Mae

Now, let's have a review of the performance of the 10-player RP contingent that participated in the 2010 Asian Youth Invitational Chess Championships in Beijing, China.

Last year, only then 12-year-old Paulo Bersamina (Boys 12, 3rd place) and Janelle Mae Frayna (Girls 14, 4th place), won medals for the Philippines.

Here's the overall performance of the RP contingent in China last year:

GIRLS
Jesca Docena (Girls U10)
29th place (3.0 points)

Shania Mae Mendoza (Girls U12)
20th place (4.0 points)

Janelle Mae Frayna (Girls U14)
4th place (6.0 points)

WFM Christy Lamiel Bernales (Girls U18)
12th place (5.0 points)

BOYS
Julius Gonzales (Boys U8)
8th place (5.0 points)

Haince Patrick de Leon (Boys U10)
18th place (5.0 points)

Paulo Bersamina (Boys U12)
3rd place (7.0 points)

Austin Jacob Literatus (Boys U14)
12th place (5.0 points)

Jan Nigel Galan (Boys U16)
18th place (4.0 points)

FM Haridas Pascua (Boys U18)
10th place (5.0 points)