Davao chessers seek support

DAVAO Region woodpushers sought for support from their respective local government units (LGUs) after collecting a total of 24 medals including five golds, 12 silvers and seven bronzes in the just-concluded 11th Asean+ Age-Group Chess Championships in Subic Freeport, Olongapo City.

The Davao woodpushers powered the DepEd-Team Philippines to 44 medals in the meet.

Davao City's John Ray Batucan, who clinched a gold in the boys under-14 standard team, a silver in blitz team and two bronzes in standard and blitz individual, said he hopes the support will continue,

"I'm happy for the support of our sponsors including the City Government of Davao. I hope they will continue to support chess players in future tournaments," Batucan said.

Girls under-14 bet Rowelyn Joy Acedo, who added three silvers (standard team, rapid team and blitz team) and three bronzes (standard individual, rapid individual and blitz individual), also issued the same sentiment during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn yesterday.

"I hope our new Mayor will continue to support us just like the present administration did since there are other events that we could no longer join due to lack of funding," Acedo said.

Girls under-12 player Ella Grace Moulic, who pocketed one gold (rapid team) and two silvers (standard team and blitz team), along with seven-year-old Irish Yngayo, who took two silvers (standard team, rapid team) and one bronze (blitz team) in girls under-eight, also clamored for cash incentives.

"I hope our good Mayor will give us incentives for the medals we won to somehow compensate for the expenses our parents incurred during our participation in the Asean chess meet," Moulic said in the vernacular.

The City Government of Davao gave financial assistance to Batucan, Acedo, Moulic, Austin Jacob Literatus, Irish Yngayo, sisters Donna and Nikki Yngayo, Lloyd Matthew Resma, Marianne Infiesto and the Placencia siblings for their participation in Subic.

Literatus captured two golds in boys under-14 standard individual and team events while Dhona Yngayo copped two silvers (standard team and blitz team) and one bronze (blitz individual) in girls under-14.

Aglipay Oberio of the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos), meanwhile, pocketed the boys under-16 blitz team gold and standard team silver.

Oberio also thanked the Igacos government for backing up his stint in the Asean tournament, but he, too, is hoping that the support will be sustained.

"I really hope Igacos officials will continue to help chess players like me," Oberio said.

The kids also shared their most memorable experiences during the weeklong competition.

"My final ninth round against Vietnam's candidate master Le Huu Thai was most memorable for me because we drew last year in Vietnam and here in our country, I defeated him. That victory was also very crucial for me to win the gold," Literatus reminisced.

Acedo, on her part, felt vindicated having upset top-seed Do Hoang Minh Tho of Vietnam.

"She defeated me in Vietnam in 2008 and I avenged my loss to her in Subic in 38 moves of a Slav Opening," she said.

Moulic, a first-timer in the Asean, said stunning No. 1 Nguyen Hoang Anh of Vietnam in their seventh round match was unforgettable.

"She attacked me. But I still defeated her," Moulic smiled.

After the Asean feats, the Davao players started attending their classes last Tuesday.

"It's back to school but we will be ready to compete in future tournaments," Literatus said.


Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on June 18, 2010.