Ateneo math student is PH Sudoku champ

MANILA, Philippines–Kaye Janelle Yao, a 17-year-old Applied Mathematics student of Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) in Quezon City, is the country’s new Sudoku champion.

This was announced on Saturday by the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild (MTG) Philippines, one of the organizers of the 2015 Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge (PSSC), held at a mall in Quezon City.

Yao, a mainstay of the Philippine math team, topped the finals of the grandmaster division of the annual competition, which drew over 4,000 participants nationwide this year. She placed second in the 2014 edition of the contest.

Last year’s champion, Alvin Ian Chan, also an Applied Math student at AdMU, placed second this time.

Natalia Beatrice Dy, who is from St. John’s Institute in Bacolod City, placed third. She topped the contest’s wizard division last year.

Apart from trophies, Yao, Chan and Dy won cash prizes of P60,000, P40,000 and P20,000, respectively.

In the competition’s wizard division, Gerrick Spencerr Limsiy, 15, from Grace Christian College in Quezon City, emerged as champion. He was followed by Bryan Russel Esperanza of St. Louis University High School in Baguio City and Jan Vincent Simbol from BHC Educational Institution in San Fernando City, La Union.

In the whiz kid division, Albriz Moore Bagsic, an 11-year-old Grade 6 student from Lilyrose School in Tanauan City, Batangas, placed first.

Kristen Dominique Chan and Kyla Andrea Adloan from the Bayanihan Institute in Tarlac City and International School for Better Beginnings in Lucena City, respectively, took second and third places.

This year’s PSSC winners will represent the country in international Sudoku contests in Bulgaria, Thailand and Singapore, according to Dr. Simon Chua, MTG president.