WHIZ KID BUTO SPEARHEADS TEAM PHILIPPINES TO AN 23-GOLD HAUL IN ASEAN CHESS RAPID
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 04 Dec 2017
PHILIPPINE chess wizard seven-year-old Al-Basher "Basty" Buto toppled former solo leader Malaysia's Lai Hong Jun in the seventh and final round to clinch the gold medal in the boys 8 years old and under category to lead the Philippines to an 23-gold medal haul after the rapid event of the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nation Age Group Chess Championship in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia Saturday night.
The Cainta, Rizal province pride, who hails from Marawi City, who rose to prominence by winning the coveted gold medal in the 13th Asian Schools Chess Championship last July in Liaohe Art Museum in Panjin, China, finished 6.0 points in seven outings.
Buto, a Grade 2 student of Faith Christian School, earlier beat Mohd Faizal Muhd Harris Halie of Malaysia in Round 1, Noorhisham Muhd Danish Haziq of Malaysia in Round 2, Wicaksana Muazzam Bilal of Indonesia in Round 3 but was defeated by Syed Hashim Azmi Syed Firdaus of Malaysia in Round 4.
Buto whose stint here is supported by the Philippines Sports Commission, National Chess Federation of the Philippines, Philippine executive champion Atty. Cliburn A. Orbe and sportsman Willy Felix, came back by winning his game against countryman Vincent Ryu Dimayuga of Batangas in Round 5, Adnan Habibur Rahman of Malaysia in Round 6 before crushing Jun in Round 7.
Buto already got two gold medals under his belt in the individual and team event of the standard competition plus the prestigious Asean master title. Fondly called "Basty" in the chess world, honed his chess skills under the guidance of National Master Rudy Ibanez, Fide Master Christopher Castellano and Candidate Master Henry Villanueva.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines vice president Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe said the success of the young athletes once again proved chess's lofty record as certified achiever.
"Today our kids dominate Asean Chess, but I believe that we can excel even in the world stage. As our kids reap success in the Asean theatre, it is time for us parents and leaders to dream bigger dreams. My dream is for the Philippines to be as strong as China and India in Chess. Together we can make it happen," said Philippine executive champion Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe.
His father Bong Buto had something to say to his son achievement:
"We would like to dedicate the victory of my son (Al-Basher "Basty" Buto) not only to the province of Rizal, to our kababayans in Marawi City and to whole nation as well."
Province of Rizal board member Rommel Ayuson lauded Buto's latest achievement. "You make the country proud not only the province of Rizal."
Also winning individual gold medals were Daniel Quizon of Dasmarinas, Cavite (boys' 14 and under), Christian Mark Daluz of Dasmarinas, Cavite (boys' 16 and under), Kaye Lalaine Regidor of Sta. Rosa (girls' 8 and under) ,Ruelle Canino of Cagayan de Oro City (girls' 10 and under), Jerlyn Mae San Diego of Dasmarinas, Cavite (girls' 12 and under) , Bea Mendoza of Baguio City and WCM Kylen Joy Mordido of Dasmarinas, Cavite ( girls' 16 and under), WFM Allaney Jia G. Doroy of Surigao del Sur and Alexis Anne Osena of Muntinlupa City (girls' 18 and under), WCM Mira Mirano of Aklan and Ynna Sophia Canape of Marikina City (girls' 20 and under).
Team Philippines also dominated the team event of the rapid competition.
Jeth Romy Morado and Candidate Master John Merill Jacutina of Quezon City and Joshua Rutor of Marikina City combined their forces with a ten points total output to snare the gold in the points Boys 20 and under.
Woman Candidate Master Mira Mirano of Aklan, Ynna Sophia Canape of Marikina City and Venice Vicente of Manila tallied total 17.5 points to secure the gold in the Girls 20 and under.
Woman Fide Master Allaney Jia G. Doroy of Agusan del Norte, Alexis Anne Osena of Manila and Laila Camel Nadera of Cebu notch total output of 16.5 points to notch the gold in the Girls 18 and under.
Brylle Gever Vinluan of San Fabian, Pangasinan, Jayson Danday of Dasmarinas, Cavite and Dale Bernardo of Angeles powered Team Philippines into a gold medal in the Boys 18 and under with a combined 13.5 points.
Bea Mendoza of Baguio City, Woman Candidate Master Kylen Joy Mordido of Dasmarinas, Cavite and Queenie Mae Samarita of General Trias, Cavite combined their forced with a total output of 15.5 points to bring the gold in the Girls 16 and under.
Christian Mark Daluz of Dasmarinas, Cavite, Lee Roi Palma of Manila and Gal Brien Palasigue of san Jose, Occidental Mindoro tallied total output of 15.5 points Team to sanre the gold in th Boys 16 and under.
Other notable gold winners in the team rapid play were Daniel Quizon of Dasmarinas, Cavite, Jave Mareck Peteros of Cebu and Justine Diego Mordido of Dasmarinas Cavite (16.5 points/Boys 14 and under); Jerlyn Mae San Diego of Dasmarinas, Cavite, Samantha Babol Umayan of Davao City and Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian of Flora, Kalinga Apayao (16.5 points/ Girls 12 and under); Mark Jay Bacojo and Michael Concio Jr. of Dasmarinas, Cavite and Wesley Jovan Magbanua of Davao City ( 17.5 points/Boys 12 and under); Ruelle Canino of Cagayan de Oro City , Antonella Berthe Racasa of Marikina City and Daren Dela Cruz of Dasmarinas, Cavite (17.5 points/Girls 10 and under) and Kaye Lalaine Regidor of Sta. Rosa, Mecel Angela Gadut of Candon City and Jirah Floravie Cutiyog of General Trias Cavite (16.5 points/Girls 8 and under).National Coach International Master elect Roel Abelgas is very confident that more medals will be added when the blitz competition gets underway on Sunday.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
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