PH team confident of chances at Asean chess tilt

READY and confident.

That’s how members of the Philippine age-group team, headed by youngest Filipina Woman Fide Master (WFM) Marie Antoinette San Diego, described themselves on the eve of the formal opening of the the first edition of the China versus ASEAN chess match to be held at the Lanice Hotel Inn along New Asia Athletics Park in Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China.

“I will do my very best for flag and country,” said the 12-year-old San Diego, the pride of Dasmarinas, Cavite.

Aside from San Diego, other member of the team dubbed “Maginificent 7” are Dennis Gutierrez III of Bulacan/Pangasinan, Ronald Canino of Cagayan de Oro City, Julius Gonzales of Marikina City, Daryl Unix Samantila of Tonsuya, Malabon, Samantha Glo Revita of Rosales, Pangasinan and Jerlyn Mae San Diego of Dasmarinas, Cavite.

Gutierrez III and Canino are seeing action in the open 8-and-under, Gonzales will compete in the open under-10 while Samantila will show his talent in the open under-12.

Jerlyn Mae  will compete in the girls under-8, Marie Antoinette and Samantha Glo will play in the girls under-12.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) chairman/president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. said the Philippine age-group chess team will be leaving for China on today via Cathay Pacific Airlines.

The team is backed up by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), through chairman Ricardo Garcia, and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

Pichay said the players earned the right to represent the country following their strong showing in 12th ASEAN age-group chess competition held in Tarakan, Indonesia last June.

“Most of our players are in good shape right now. They are all well-prepared and better-trained,” said NCFP Executive Director and former Olympian GM Jayson Gonzales.  /correspondent MARLON BERNARDINO