OOZING with talent and confidence, Balingoan pride Quarl Maverick Vera Cruz and Cagayan de Oro hopeful Christian James Aquino finally exorcized the ghost of failed attempts and near misses in their past individual chess campaigns.
Returning to the Golden Chess Friends (GCF) arena with more focus and determination, the 11-year-old Vera Cruz and the 20-year-old Aquino went on to dominate the CMOCA Fide-Rated Students Chess Championship last Saturday at the 2nd Floor Green Lane of the Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City.
Vera Cruz scored 6.5 points in seven rounds to rule the elementary level and capture the P3,000 top purse and championship trophy of the rapid tourney also supported by Misamis Oriental Governor Peter ‘Sr Pedro’ M. Unabia and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ A. Uy.
“Genius nga bata kini si Vera Cruz. With a good trainor mokusog hayag ang kaugmaon ining bataa sa chess,” said GCF reliable Arian Belly Calido.
Aquino also produced the same output and received a similar amount in topping the combined high school and college category, though he’s quite discontented with having a solitary draw in his record.
“I was expecting a perfect seven, pero kumpyansa winning na kaayo natablahan pa sa isa nako ka dula,” Aquino told Gold Star Daily.
Lagging behind Vera Cruz at second up to fifth places after the Bucholz tiebreaker are Ran Zeth Marco Magallanes (six points) and fellow 5.5 pointers Jaden Cedric Abesamis, Teddy John Daigon, and Jan Calvin Abesamis who took home P2,000, P1,000, P800 and P500 each plus medals.
The rest of the top-10 finishers ― Miyka'el Jerahmiel Lapad, Rena Dalagan, Janin Dhrey Querequere, Cyrish Elaine Magalso, and Maria Andrea Trani at five points ran away with P300 apiece also with medals.
Trailing Aquino at six points in the junior rivalry is Karl Auguste Xander Sayson, and Lyn Getubig who got P2,000 and P1,000, respectively.
With them in the top 10 are Sara Dalagan (5.5 pts) and a bunch of five-pointers with better tiebreak results such as Cassey Miguel Tabamo, Keith Adriane Ilar, Adrian Othniel Yulo, James Pada, Joseph Alexis Dela Rama, and Lara Dalagan.
“Finally, mabutang na gyod ang mga dagway nilang Vera Cruz ug Aquino sa giant tarpauline. Maayo sab ang dagan sa mga babae like the Getubig and Dalagan sisters and Querequere sa Misamis Oriental. Makalingaw ang outcome sa GCF March episode nga gidumala sa Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental Chess Association,” said organizer Ben Wabe, beaming with pride that the GCF monthly chess calendar had already been filled with major sponsors up to December.
