ALREADY assured of a gold medal for his sports achievement, Cagayan de Oro ace David Rey Ancheta had never rested as he led the Chessmis TV Chess Team in lording it over in the sixth episode of the Philippine Chess League (PCL) Season 3 virtually held, over the weekend, via lichess platform.
The 16-year-old Ancheta carded 26 points as Chessmis TV amassed 1,109-point output to finish ahead of Nueva Ecija Chess Knights (1,108), Rising Phoenix Chess Academy (1,024), White Knights Chess Club Team “A” (723), TFCC Chess Movers (466) and PFCC Warlords (412) in Group B of the online team rivalry dubbed as “Mayor Sara Duterte Chess Tournament.”
It was a fitting reward for the 10th-grader Ancheta who will progress to junior high on May 14 with a gold medal award after spearheading the Corpus Christi Knights to another championship win in the last Mindanao Milo Little Olympics inter-school chessfest.
Ancheta is also a three-time Palaro campaigner and had succeeded Corpus Christi alumnus Lennon Hart Salgados in winning the national kiddies championship of the now-extinct Shell Active Chess.
“Timing kaayo nga before niya madawat ang gold medal award sa sports naka-champion pa sila sa online chess nga siya ang highest scorer sa ilang team. Siyempre lipay kaayo ‘mi,” Ancheta's ever supportive mother, Jean, told Gold Star Daily.
Julian Rogello Labaja, 17 and a 10th grader at Iligan City National High School, also contributed 17 points for the Chessmis TV Chess Team supported by Philippine Chess godfather Billy Joe Ereno.
The dynamic duo of Ancheta and Labaja was leading the way in the Youth Team Battle.
“David Ancheta’s play was always razor-sharp, rational, and brilliant,” US chess master Marlon Bernardino has quoted the team owner Ereno as saying.
Fellow Kagay-anons Cleto ‘Bong’ Vasquez and Clement Valledor contributed 17 and 12 points each in the Senior category, while Ma. Arlene Antiquina Ablin and Mikhaila Labaja delivered 12 and 6 markers apiece.
Also fortifying Chessmis TV’s winning moves were Jason Salubre (22), John Cua (15), Anatoly Pascua (15), Junmark Baldesimo (14), Reynaldo Abaa (14), Julius Dan Augustine Ablin (9), Michael Tinga (8) and Kharl Manliguez (6) in the Pool A category.
This, as Sherwin Tiu pulled ahead in the Pool B category with 23 points, followed by Elizardo Rico Paslon (21), coach Jimmy Dano ( 21), Adrian Yulo (17), Lexis Portacion (17), Bobby Solomon (4) and Apollo Agapay (4).
