MORE ON VIETNAM AGE GROUP CHESS

DANANG, VIETNAM---A seven-year-old boy from Vigan City, Ilocos Sur carrying the good fight for the Filipinos, stunned a higher opponent and nailed his third consecutive victory in the Boys' 8 and under after the third round of 9th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships 2008 here at the Danang Hotel.

Handling the white pieces, Daniel John Lemi trounced Nguyen Cong Tai of Vietnam after 25 moves of French Defense to raise his total 3.0 points.

"Nagbunga po 'yung preparasyon po namin," said Lemi, an incoming grade 2 pupil of Anastrophe Christian School.

However, Marist School incoming grade 2 pupil Haince Patrick de Leon suffered his second loses to stuck at 1.0 point after losing to Pham Quang Minh of Vietnam in 26 moves of a London System Opening.

Pulilan, Bulacan ace Kyle Emmanuel Ochoa, meanwhile clobbered Nguyen Thai Duong of Vietnam for his 2.0 points.

"Masyadong mabilis tumira si Haince, sabi ko nga ay standard play pa at hindi pa rapid at blitz event," said NM Rudy Ibanez, a member of RP coaching staff headed by IM Idelfonso Datu.

Delegation head and NCFP director Atty. Edmundo Legaspi is very confident that the RP age grouper can win a gold medal, a good gift to NCFP president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr.who is schedule to arrive here on June 14.

"So far so good, maganda nilalaro ng mga bata 'yung nga lamang 'yung iba ay may winning chances at drawish position kaso natalo pa dahil masyadong mabilis ang kanilang laro" said Atty. Legaspi, who also scored his second win in the Senior Division, 50-year-old below matapos after beating Vietnamese Nguyen Do in 30 moves of a Sicilian-Dragon skirmish.

According to tournament arbiter Thomas Hoe,the winner in the Senior Division will be included in the over-all medal tally in the Asean Age-Group Chess Championships. Hoe also added that an outright Fide Master and Woman FM Title at stakes to the winner in the U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-18 division for boys' and girls, in order.

Sharing the limelight is Richilieu Salcedo of Cagayan de Oro City suprise No.4 FM Nguyen Viet Chung of Vietnam in 63 moves of a Sicilian Defense to score 3.0 points and share the lead with fourth round opponent No.2 FM Ton That Nhu Tung of Vietnam, winner over countryman Hoang Van Ngoc in the Boys' 18 and under. Karl Victor Ochoa of Pulilan, Bulacan held into a draw with Nguyen Manh Truong of Vietnam for his 2.0 points. Not as fourtunate is Leo Daylo Jr. of Quezon City who succumbed to CM Tran Thanh Tu of Vietnam and remains at 1.0 point.

Paolo Bersamina of Pasay City nipped Mohd Faizal B. Roslan of Malaysia after 49 moves of an English Opening for his 2.5 points in the Boys' 10 and under while John Ray Batucan of Davao City crushed compatriot Vince Angelo Medina of Manila for his 3.0 points and grabs the solo leadership board in the Boys' 12 and under.Alcon John Datu, maenwhile nipped Nguyen Dinh Quang of Vietnam for his 2.5 points in the Boys' 16 and under.

Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Jan Nigel Galan drew their match in the Boys'14 and under. The duo now has 2.0 points each.

Meanwhile, Judith Pineda of Olongapo City when she upset No.6 Woman Candidate Master Nguyen Ngoc Thuy Trang of Vietnam to score his third straight wins and create a three-way tie for first place with No.2 WFM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung and fourth round opponent No.7 WCM Phan Nguyen Mai Chi of Vietnam in the Girls' 14 and under.

Top seed Chardine Charadee Camacho, who hails from Caba, La Union, on the other hand crushed N.4 WFM Danielle Ho En-Huei of Singapore for her 2.5 points while Kaye Ann Sioson Legaspi of Olongapo City bowed to Le Hoai Bao Duyen of Vietnam and remains at 1.5 points.Cherry Ann Mejia of Taguig City toppled Cheng Jie Ling Zerlene of Singapore to improved here record with 1.5 points.

Samantha Glo Revita of Rosales, Pangasinan beat Michelle Hoe of Singaore for her 2.0 points but Marie Antoinette San Diego of Dasmarinas, Cavite yielded to Huynh Thu Truc of Vietnam and remains at 1.5 points in the Girls' 10 and under.

In the Danang International Master (IM) Tournament, Fide Master Roderick Nava and David Elorta settled a 25 moves draw of Queen's Pawn Game at the start of 10 player-s field yesterday.

"Medyo drawish kasi ang posisyon at ok lamang ang draw kasi maaga pa naman para maireserba ko ang lakas ko sa next round," said the 22 year-old Nava, which stint is supported by NCFP president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. and Carmona mayor Roy Loyola.

Top seed GM Zaw Win Lay (2574) and 2nd seed IM Wynn Zaw Htun (2542), both representative of Myanmar also drew their games.

contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison