FEMALE competitors were trying to steal the show at the elementary level of the ongoing GCF Students Fide-Rated Rapid Chess Championship II at the Ayala-Centrio Mall in Cagayan de Oro City over the weekend.

And two of them are the fast-learning Lila Alyssa Seriña of Cagayan de Oro and Mary Janelle Tan of Jasaan, Misamis Oriental.

The 12-year-old Seriña, daughter of lawyer Vincent Seriña, defeated Jesheene Ybur Careras to take the solo lead in elementary rivalry with a perfect five-of-five performance going to the last two rounds last Saturday.

SUPPORTIVE. Impressed by the massive turn-out of the students' chessfest, the beautiful Ann Suan ― wife of Cagayan de Oro City Councilor Aga Sua ― calls the attention of US-based sponsor Erwin Culanag to donate some cash. Photo by Lynde Salgados

An honor student of Capitol University Basic Education Department, the sharp-playing Seriña ― who topped the national youth online chess tournament in 2021 ― takes on the equally-strong Quarl Maverick Vera Cruz of Balingoan, Misamis Oriental in the penultimate sixth round.

Vera Cruz, who thrives in tactics and combinations, overpowered another Balingoan bet in 2022 Batang Pinoy gold medalist Arena Fide Master Janin Dhrey Querequere to share the second spot with Mary Janelle Tan at 4.5 points.

Also from Jasaan, Tan bested Paulo Efren Castino, to ensure a wide-open race for the elementary crown worth P3,000.

“Ga-evolve na gyod ang chess dili na makasiguro ang mga lalake sa ilang kontra na babae nga kahadlokan na karon,” Fide National Arbiter Lorenzo ‘Jun’ Cuizon told Gold Star Daily.

Two more girls were in the thick of the fight among the battles of three-pointers.

THERE’S ALWAYS A WAY. Size is not a problem for this small girl contestant who soldiers on despite her difficulty in reaching for the chess pieces. Photo by Lynde Salgados

But only Ashley Aya Nicole Paquinol, who contributed to Cagayan de Oro’s golden finish in the Vigan Batang Pinoy Meet, could escape with a victory over Jester Naser Ador, as Butuan City’s Chloe Gaia Hewe yielded to local boy Jan Calvin Abesamis.

In the mixed high school and college category, the much older Christian James Aquino, Adrian Othniel Patricio Yulo, and Romeo Canino ― all from Cagayan de Oro ― were dictating the race with a similar 4.5-point output after five rounds.

Trailing them by half at four points are Ronald Canino, Keith Adriane Ilar, Aizel Jane Gicole, Gian Patrick Espiritu, Ace Joshua Caralde, LJ Getubig, and Karl Auguste Xander Sayson.

Close to P40,000 in total cash prizes are up for grabs in this day-long competition which also has a blitz event on four boards, welcoming the participation of adult players.