Thursday, March 7, 2013

Docena, Samantila cop Malolos chess crowns



MALOLOS CITY---THE Philippines' brighest hope Jerad Docena completed his rise from a kiddies champion to a junior king as he bested older rivals to capture the crown in the Boys Under-20 division while Daryl Unix Samantila bagged the Boys’ Under -14 title via tiebreaks in the  just ended Luzon leg of the 2013 National age-group chess championship here at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center, Provincial Capitol Compound, Malolos City, Bulacan on Wednesday.

The 15-year-old Pasay City resident Docena, a habitue of Spare and Strike in Bangkal, Makati City, won his first five matches then drew with Paul Robert Evangelista of Bolinao, Pangasinan in the sixth and final round after 40 moves of Modern defense handling the white pieces, to finish with 5.5 points in six outings to enroute the coveted title.

"Magulo laro namin ni Paul Robert (Evangelista), bagama't quality up ako pero lamang siya sa posisyon. Sa bandang huli nga ay tumagilid pa ako buti na lamang naka perpetual check po tayo," said Docena, who duplicated GM Wesley So’s feat in the early 2000s when the then whiz kid dominated the juniors division as a kiddie participant in the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships. So became the country’s top player and is now one of the world’s leading young GMs.

The Antequera, Bohol native Docena, whose local and international chess competition supported by  National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. and sportsman Daniel "Daddy Boy" Francisco of Bangkal, Makati City. 

" Rd5 lamang ay panalo na kaso pareho kaming time pressure ni Jerad eh," added Evangelista, top player of Far Eastern University, the reigning UAAP Junior champion who finish second with 4.5 points.

Rounding up to the top eight (8) finishers who notch 4.0 points each were No.3 Marc Christian Nazario of Quezon City, No.4 Lennon Heart Salgados of Cagayan de Oro City, No.5 Vince Angelo Medina of Quezon City, No.6 Christian Nanola of San Pablo City, Laguna, No.7 Jan Francis Mirano of Aklan and No.8 Paul Benjamin Casiano of Pulilan, Bulacan.

The Tonsuya, Malabon City pride Samantila, meanwhile, drew with Brylle Gever Vinluan of San Fabian, Pangasinan in the final round to finish with 5.0 points. Samantila, top player of Adamson University junior chess team edged Romulo Curioso Jr. of Cabanatuan City in the tiebreak to pocket the crown. Curioso Jr., on the other hand, toppled John Marvin Miciano of Davao City.

Heirry Manaloto of Paniqui, Tarlac (Boys Under-16/ 5.5 points); Carl Anthony Canio of Cavite and Dennis Gutierrez Jr. of Malolos City, Bulacan (Boys Under-12/ 5.0 points); Daniel Quizon of Taytay, Rizal (Boys Under-10/ 6.0 points) and Jerish John Velarde of Lapu-Lapu City (Boys Under-8/6.0 points).

Organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and sponsored by Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado and Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel thru the initiative of NCFP Committee Chairman for Grassroots Development and Promotions Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares, the Luzon age-group chess event is a qualifying tournament to select the country's representative in the ASEAN Age-group plus in Bangkok, Thailand in June. Tournament Director is NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales while IA Gene Poliarco is the Chief Arbiter.    -Marlon Bernardino-

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