GENERAL SANTOS City — After the smoke of battle cleared, Woman FIDE Master Ruelle ‘Tawing’ Canino of Cagayan de Oro City and International Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca of Zamboanga City emerged as the top medalists of the 2025 Batang Pinoy Chess National Finals, which ended Friday, Oct. 31, at Robinsons Place here.
The small but formidable Canino swept the first five individual golds at stake in the girls under-17 division — standard, rapid, blitz, Fischer Random rapid 960, and blitz 960 — before cooling off in the newly introduced and unfamiliar ASEAN chess rapid event.
The country’s youngest World Chess Olympiad qualifier in 2024, Canino bounced back with another gold in the ASEAN chess blitz.
“Bago ang ASEAN chess medyo nakakalito pa kasi ang most powerful piece which is Queen ay naging inutil tinanggalan ng karapatan, mas masahol pa sa King ang movement,” said one arbiter, who admitted he is still learning the nuances of the ASEAN chess format.
Arca, the former world blitz champion, dominated the boys under-16 standard event but stumbled in the normal rapid and blitz contests after some upset losses.
Well-acquainted with the latest chess innovations from his international stints, the bespectacled Arca returned with a vengeance to sweep the rapid 960, blitz 960, ASEAN rapid, and ASEAN blitz events.
His five-gold haul, along with two silvers and a bronze, is expected to inspire aspiring players in Zamboanga City, home to Olympic weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and Olympic boxing bronze medalist Eumir Marcial.
With his parents acquiring properties in Zamboanga, the homeschooled Arca is temporarily staying with the chess-playing Florendo family and often trains with National Master Joey Albert Florendo when not competing.
“My son Gian is already a registered SK voter in Zamboanga where we bought properties. And so, by all means, Zamboanga City na gyod among residence. We're now with the Zamboanga team under the banner of Zamboanga LGU kon mag-compete si Gian,” said his father, police officer Arman Arca of Panabo City, in an interview with Gold Star Daily.
