WITH only less than a year in existence, the Cantilado Chess Club based in the Calaanan relocation site already produced four of the top 10 elementary performers in the GCF V-Fide Rated Chess Championship concluded last Saturday at the Ayala Centrio Mall, Cagayan de Oro City.

To everyone’s great surprise, one of coach Renan Cantilado’s protegees Richmond Valmores actually overtook some participants who learned chess far ahead of him by claiming the elementary's championship trophy and the P3,000 top purse that goes along with it.

“Nagbunga gyod among mga sakripisyo. Kining mga bataa sa relocation site gasag-ob intawon sa tubig pang registration unya makatulog pa ibabaw sa chess table sa ilang paningkamot nga makatuon sa dulang ahedres,” coach Cantilado, who works at the City Hall with his ever supportive wife Elsie Cabaraban-Cantilado, told Gold Star Daily.

WELL-ATTENDED. The highly-successful April edition of the Golden Chess Friends’ monthly chess tournament was held last Saturday at the Ayala Centrio Mall. Photo by Lynde Salgados

Like the 14-year-old Valmores, coach Cantilado said that the other Calaanan kids Churchille Davey Gallana (six pts), Sherleen Cobey (5.5 pts), and Cyrus Dave Gallana (five pts) ― who placed third, fifth, and ninth ― are all novice chess players whose economically-challenged parents in the neighborhood he befriended and introduced them to the positive aspect of the mental sport.

“Nagka-interest sa chess ilang mga anak, tungod sa ilang pangarap nga makatapos sa eskwela through sports scholarship puhon sa high school and in college,” Cantilado said.

So impressive that Valmores clinched his first major award with an almost perfect record of six wins and a draw as the more seasoned Abesamis brothers, Jaden Cedric (six pts) and Jan Calvin (5.5 pts), nailed the second and fourth spots in the rapid tourney organized by the Golden Chess Friends and sponsored by the Prodigies Inc. Manpower Service Provider.

“Results like this will encourage us further to go on with our mission nga mag produce og mga chess masters in the international level from this northern side of Mindanao. Mao ni akong ganahan sa mga bata from the poor families kay mga fighter, warrior kaayo modula,” remarked GCF’s founding head Ben Wabe.

THE RIGHT ATTITUDE. He may not win the crown, but the extreme focus and concentration shown by this little boy, Zildjian Ypon from Maramag, Bukidnon may reward him someday. Photo by Lynde Salgados

Also in the top 10 prize circle are Zildjian Ypon and Xian Macgyver Caneos with similar 5.5 points, and Junlee Allan, Paulo Efren Castino who edged out fellow five-pointers Richmond Evo Echem, Francis Nathaniel Embolode, Jim Lagunay, and Mateo Xander Tabamo in the Bucholz tiebreaker.

Eight other kiddies ― Jasper Nash Jayme, Yvenze Ihong, Kyle Joseph Adriel Palatan, Miykael Jerahmiel Lapad, Xeildean Greg Galendez, Ludwig Jazz Ypon, Chiz Casas and Teddy John Daigon ― also failed to make the cut out from 81 elementary participants.

But their identical 4.5-point effort or above 50 percent performance in the seven-round Fide-Rated tourney was enough to get the organizers’ attention.

“Depende sa paningkamot labi na gyod support sa parents kay kining naa sa ubos puhon makasaka sab 'ni sila sa ibabaw kay monthly na kining torneyo sa mga bata inside the city malls until next year,” said the GCF’s pairing head Arian Belly Calido.