PH chessers off to strong start in Montesilvano
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 14 Nov 2023
Montesilvano, Italy---The Philippine age-group chess team opened its campaign in the FIDE World Youth Championship on a promising note Monday as FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca and FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo won their respective matches in the first round of the standard events.
Competing at the Pala Dean Martin centro congressi, Arca led the way by beating India's Wadhawan Daaevik in the Boys under-14 section while Bacojo beat Albania's Kelvin Kosta in the Boys under-18 section.
“The first round is one of the toughest rounds in any tournament. It usually sets the tone of how you’re going to perform,” said Arca.
"We hope to perform well in this event and gain some ElO rating points as well as the coveted IM Norms," Bacojo said for his part.
Arca and Bacojo, both playing under the guidance of Dasmariñas Mayor Jenny Barzaga, Rep. Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga Jr. and national coach FIDE Master Roel Abelgas, earned their first of three IM Norms during the 18th IGB Dato' Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last September.
With the win, Arca will face FM Gustas Morkunas of Lithuania in the second round on Tuesday while Bacojo faces Tymon Ochedzan of Poland.
However, Mark Gabriel Usman and National Master Oscar Joseph Cantela dropped their opening matches against Leo Lin of Canada and John Heinrich of Germany in the Boys under-14 section and Boys under-16 section, respectively.
Backed up by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Mayor Luis "Jon Jon" Ferrer IV, Vice Mayor Jonas Glyn Porto Labuguen and Vice Governor Athena Bryana Delgado Tolentino, Jirah Floravie Cutiyog bannered the girl's squad as she outplayed Veronika Lorenz of Germany in the Girls under-14 section.
"It was a tough match," said Cutiyog, who used her vast experience in the end game to prevail after 42 pushes of Sicilian Defense, Rossolimo Variation.
Cutiyog's next opponent is Poland's Zuzanna Gaszka.
Woman National Master Kaye Lalaine Regidor (Girls under-16 section) and Woman National Master Franchesca Largo (Girls under-18 section) also opened with wins while Anica Shey Dimatangihan (Girls under-14 section) split her games.
Regidor subdued Emilia Deak-Sala of Austria, Largo trounced Anna Voriskova of Czech Republic while Dimatangihan drew with Mahri Gamyradova of Turkmenistan.
In the second round, Regidor will test the mettle of Erdenebayar Khuslen of Mongolia, Largo will trade her skills against Jana Sosovickova of Slovakia and Dimatangihan opposite Ani Avetisyan of Armenia.
Also joining the PH chess team backed up by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) are Woman National Master Bonjoure Fille Suyamin (Girls under-14 section) , Maureiin Lepaopao (Girls under-14 section) , Charly Jhon Yamson (Boys under-14 section) who lost their first round matches.
Suyamin yielded to Woman International Master Iris Moe of the USA, Lepaopao lost to Bayarsaikhan Khulan of Mongolia while Yamson bowed to Candidate Master Kendrick Botong Zhang of New Zealand.
Completing the PH age group chess team who also backed up by NCFP Chairman/President Rep. Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., NCFP CEO GM Jayson Gonzales and POC President and Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino are Arena Grandmaster Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. (Head of Delegation and Coach), Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza (Coach) and Ederwin Estavillo (Coach).-Marlon Bernardino-
Photo caption:
Photo (L-R): FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo, Arena Grandmaster Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. (Head of Delegation and Coach) and FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca.
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