7th Casiano Sol Cruz, Jr. Memorial Chess Championship

by Marlon Bernardino

2012 Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship NCR Leg Kiddies
Division 4th Placer Jayson Tapia of Antipolo National High School topped
the tough 7th Casiano Sol Cruz, Jr. Memorial Chess Championship held at
Meralco Chess Club yesterday. Tapia, seeded 6th with an NCFP rating of 1833
hurdled the 4-round knock-out tournament patterned after the FIDE World Cup
where our Manny Paquiao Cup Pinoy masters like GM Antonio, GM Paragua, GM
Barbosa have competed. Tapia posted wins over Palarong NCR Finalist Bea
Oltiveros of Ramon Magsaysay High School in Round 1, 2nd seed Aldous
Coronel of UP, rated 2037, in Round 2, 4th seed Paul Casiano of Bulacan
State University, rated 1933, in Round 3 semi-finals, and top seed Jose
Castro of FEU, rated 2038, in Round 4 Finals.

Jose Castro won the silver medal while Paul Casiano took home the bronze in
the 16-player invitational event that includes UAAP and NCAA veterans
Coronel and Paulo Cristobal of UP, John Margarito of Adamson, Juan Castro
of San Beda, and JC Andan of Ateneo.

Tapia is set to defend his title in the 3rd One Meralco Foundation Jr.
Chess Masters Chess Championship scheduled on May 25 at Meralco Fitness
Center in Pasig City. The tournament, with elementary and high school
divisions, is open to all students of public schools and is free of charge.

Meanwhile, the pride of Muzon Elementary School Eman Barbosa, younger
brother of Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa, topped the elementary batch while
Jeric Regis of Ramon Magsaysay High School won in the high school batch of
the One Meralco Foundation Summer Chess Workshop for public school
students.