BATANG Pinoy-bound Jan Calvin Abesamis of Opol, Misamis Oriental emerged as champion in the elementary level of the Rising Chess Unlimited Development Program tournament hosted by Cagayan de Oro on Saturday at Bazaar Place 2nd Floor of the Limketkai Mall.

The 10-year-old Abesamis defeated Bukidnon champion and solo eight-round leader Sebastian Damonsong of Malaybalay City, then outplayed Churchille Davey Gallana of Cagayan de Oro in the final round to claim the championship trophy and the P5,000 top purse with his total score of eight points.

ELEMENTARY CHAMPION. Misamis Oriental boy Jan Calvin Abesamis, at left, rallies against Bukidnon champion and eight-round leader Sebastian Damonsong in this bit of penultimate round showdown. Photo by Lynde Salgados

Damonsong, who led the field by half a point before his match with Abesamis, recovered in the final round by edging Luke Haden Albores to finish in a tie with Arena Fide Master Janin Dhrey Querequere at 7.5 points.

Damonsong, however, prevailed in the Bucholz tiebreaker over Querequere, winner opposite Art Joe Capatan in the ninth and final round, to secure the runner-up prize of P3,000.

Querequere from Talisayan, Misamis Oriental settled for the second runner-up medal worth P2,000.

“Exciting kaayo ang rivalry sa elementary level and we’re amused to note nga daghan sa mga entries karon from all over Northern Mindanao mga bagohan nga dagway,” said Golden Chess Friends founding head Benoni Wabe, who fully supported the RCU chess program initiated by Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo.

THIRD-PLACER Janin Dhrey Querequere, at left, gestures in one of her triumphant Rising Chess Unlimited matches. Photo by Lynde Salgados

Rounding up the top-20 winners out of 92 elementary entries are Clint Borres, Churchille Gallana and Cyrus Dave Gallana at seven pts; Luke Haden Albores, Jesheene Ybur Careras and Rena Dalagan at 6.5 pts and Art Joe Capatan, Argylle Lord Hezekiah Suerto, Jarens Bagares, Lara Jane Taganos, Martin Puertas, Sherleen Cobey, Juliane Marx Nakamura, Jasper Nash Jayme, Lila Madison Fernandez, Chenelle Asis and Jolee Matthew Satorre at six pts.

Urbiztondo told Gold Star Daily he expects the Rising Chess participants in Cagayan de Oro to also try their luck in the First Governor Henry S. Oaminal 8-in-1 Grand Chess Festival that will be slated on November 10-12 at the City Auditorium in Ozamiz City.

“We include the 15-under, 13-under, 11-under, and 9-under categories in our multiple chess events to commemorate the 94th provincial anniversary of Misamis Occidental. So, we expect our top age-group campaigners in Mindanao to be there kay doble alegre ang mga premyo,” added Urbiztondo.