AL-BASHER "BASTY" BUTO TO LEAD PROVINCE OF RIZAL IN 2017 CLUSTER MEET CHESS TOURNEY
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 08 Dec 2017
PHILIPPINE wunderkind seven year old Al Basher "Basty" Buto will lead a contingent of Province of Rizal when the 2017 Cluster Meet Chess Tournament for Elementary and High school divisions gets underway on Monday in Marikina City.
Buto will play the top board for the Province of Rizal in the elementary Boys division.
His board 2 team mate is Mark Joseph Barbosa, younger brother of grandmaster Oliver Barbosa.
Joining them were Cielo Hernandez and Irish Gelua in the Elementary Girls division; Kenneth Gelua and Chester Niel Reyes in the High School Boys division; Rohanisah Buto and Janna Ledj Barcenas in the High School Girls division.
Fondly called Basty in the chess world, Al Basher, a grade 2 pupil of Faith Christian School in Cainta, Rizal and a native of Marawi City is fresh from winning five golds and one silver medals in the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nation Age Group Chess Championship held at the Grand Darul Makmur Hotel at the Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia from November 26 to December 3, 2017.
Team Philippines ended the supremacy of Vietnam in the Asean region winning the over-all championships with 83 golds, 37 silvers and 29 bronze medals.
?It was a great honor to go against the Asean best chess athletes in this Asean age group chess competition,? said Al Basher, playing under the guidance of sportsman Willy Felix with National Masters Rudy Ibanez and Romeo Alcodia, Fide Master Christopher Castellano and Candidate Master Henry Villanueva are part of the personal coach of Team Buto.
?Seeing them in action inspired me to train harder,? added national Boys 8 and under champion Buto who set his eyes to qualify in the 2018 edition of Asean Age Group, Asian Youth and World Cadet Championships.
Supporter of the Youth and Sportsman Casimiro "Yto" Ynares congratulates Al-Basher (Buto) for winning once again the Asean Age Group Chess Championship.
"You are an exemplary Filipino who is determined to go against all odds to bring honor to your country. May your tribe increase as we prove to the world the real worth of a Filipino as our President would take pride in... our country that continues to surmount adversities to make it to investment grade level. You make us proud, Al-Basher."
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.
Participating in the competition are representative from Philippines, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and the Philippines.
Head of delegation is NCFP executive director Red Dumuk and assisted by other officials were International Arbiter James Infiesto, International Master elect Roel Abelgas, National Masters Alex Milagrosa, Wilfredo Neri and Edmundo Gatus and Angelina Mortos.
Team Philippines, supported by the Philippine Sports Commission under Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez and sent by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines under the leadership of Chairman/ President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
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