LIKE father, like son.
Youthful sensation Aljie Cantonjos closely follows in the footsteps of his father Allan Cantonjos, who for decades, has been known as one of the top-notch chess players of Misamis Oriental.
The younger Cantonjos, who nearly upstaged Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio in the cash-rich Iligan Open, has been a consistent top-10 performer in strong chess competitions around Mindanao in recent years.
After his credible show in Butuan for the preliminary stage of Rising Chess Unlimited last September, Cantonjos proceeded to Panabo City in Davao del Norte to compete in the much stronger 2nd Cong. Alan R. Dujali National Open Individual and Team Chess Championships in the opening week of October.
There he made it again to the podium’s top-10 behind eventual champion International Master Eric Labog Jr (eight pts), Fide Masters Alekhine Nouri, Austin Jacob Literatus, and Christian Gian Karlo Arca at 7.5 points each as Cantonjos tied with Allen Mirano, FM Ellan Asuela, Kevin Aquero, Bob Jones Liwagon, and IM Ronald Dableo at seven points apiece.
While considering Cagayan de Oro as their second home, the broad Cantonjos family of chess players come from Gingoog City as native residents.
Aljie’s father Allan Cantonjos first made his mark during the early years of the now-defunct Shell Active Chess which frequently qualified him for the national finals in Manila.
Before entering the Philippine Air Force, the now-retired soldier Allan Cantonjos was conferred with the National Master Chess title which he decided to waive for no apparent reason when the Philippine Chess Federation under its late president Art Borjal became the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
“Si Aljie miliwat gyod ang abilidad sa iyang papa nga igmat sa dulang ahedres (chess). Hatagan nato'g break ang bata,” said Capitol chess trainer Johnnel Balquin who is planning to include Cantonjos in the Paglaum Misor chess team that will compete in the major chess event in Ozamiz City this coming November.
