FILIPINO whiz kids bagged a total of 23 medals last Wednesday, including eight golds in the Blitz event of the 12th ASEAN Age-group Chess Championships at the Indoor Telaga Kramat Stadium in Tarakan, Indonesia.
“We are very proud of our age groupers’ performance in Tarakan,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) head Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. who bankrolled the participation of the young wood pushers. Pichay is also confident that the country will win more medals in the Standard and Rapid events.
Aside from the eight gold medals, the country also bagged seven silvers and eight bronzes.
The five individual gold medals were won by Dennis Gutierrez III of Bulacan (Open 8-under), Julius Gonzales of Marikina City (Open 10-under), Daryl Unix Samantila of Tonsuya, Malabon (Open 12-under), Mc Dominique Lagula of Nueva Ecija (Open 16-under) and Mira Mirano of Aklan (Girls 14-under).
The three team gold medals were delivered by Lagula, Patrick Dave Dulay of Vigan, Ilocos Sur and Jeazzir Kline Surposa of Davao City (Open 16-under); Mirano, Shaina Mae Mendoza of Laguna and Ella Grace Moulic of Davao City (Girls 14-under) and Janelle Mae Frayna of Bicol, WFM Cherry Ann Mejia of Pangasinan and Jean Karen Enriquez of Marikina City (Girls 16-under).
The country also won five individual and two team silver medals as well as four individual and four team bronzes.
Coaches of the Philippine age group team are GM Jason Gonzales, NM Wilfredo Neri and James Infiesto.