THE 2010 NATIONAL AGE- GROUP CHESS TOURNEY - " UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL "

From May 15 to 19, 2010 I was at the NCCC Mall located at Matina, Davao City watching the new crop of Pinoy chess players battle each other during the 2010 National Age-group Chess Tourney hosted by Davao City for the 1st time. My two daughters, Caissa Jane ( 12 and under) and Florence Faith ( 10 and under ) played their first natl age group competition together with my two nephews Darren John ( 10 years old), Jose Danilo ( 8 years old ) and their sister Alyssa Daniele (12 years old). By the look in their face I could see that my kids and their cousins were having fun joining the competition and met new friends along the way.



( My eldest daughter Caissa Jane, seeing action in the 12 and under category )


I was also there as an invited guest of NCFP Region XI coordinator James Infiesto in my current capacity as President of the Metro Toril Chess Association ( MTCA) and as one of the minor sponsors of the event. MTCA sponsored 3 Toril junior players namely Neptali Batucan, Adrian Llanos and Anthony Mosqueda with additional help from chess patron Glen Paclar. Our new group Chess Excellence Limited Co., also provided t-shirts and allowance of P 500 each to 4 selected Davao players namely Austin Jacob Literatus, John Ray Batucan, Rowelyn Joy Acedo and Ella Grace Moulic.



( Caissa's Father with boys 14 and under champ Austin Jacob Literatus and
Toril players Erwin Tubog, Adrian Llanos, Anthony Mosqueda, and Neptali
Batucan III )



Competition was keen and heated especially in the 14, 16 and under 20 ( boys
and girls competition) with majority of the RP's big guns in action. The
competition in the under 20 girls feature some of RP's national players who are not
only good in chess but good looking as well.



( RP national team members in action: Jedara Docena ( w/green jacket),
Christy Lamiel Bernales (w/ violet t-shirt), and Akiko Charmaine Suede
(w/ polka-dot shirt) who incidentally finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the
under 20 girls, respectively)



( Winners of the under 20 girls with newly elected councilor Atty. Melchor
Quitain ).


Five Davao City players qualified for the ASEAN age- group to be held in Subic,
Philippines this coming June 4 to 13, 2010 namely Austin Jacob Literatus ( champ-
14 and under boys), Irish Yngayo ( 2nd-8 and under girls), Ella Grace Moulic ( 3rd-
12 and under girls) Donna Yngayo (3rd- 14 and under girls) and Nikki Erica Yngayo
(1 6 and under ).



( Caissa's Father and Nofre Reyes of Chess Excellence Ltd. Co. together with
Alfred Moulic ( father of Ella Grace), Austin Jacob Literatus and Ella Grace
Moulic ).




( Caissa's Father with kids Florence Faith and Caissa Jane and their cousins
Alyssa Daniele and Darren John ),


( The winners in the 12 and under boys category. The champion Paolo
Bersamina ( center, w/ blue jogging pants) also topped the National Juniors
competition that followed and was awarded the national master title, the
youngest to be awarded such title).


( Posing with the champ: Alfred Moulic, Glen Paclar, Caissa's Father, Austin
Jacob Literatus, Engr. Enrico Vanta, Charles Maxey, Sammy Yu, and IM Candidate
Reggie Olay ).

The event was organized by the National Chess Federation Region (NCFP) in coordination with

the City Government of Davao, Growee Vitamins, JCI Durian City, Inc. and Jewm Eggs. Kudos to the

chess enthusiasts and organizations who workied together to stage this event. For the main core committee: FA James Infiesto, NA Engr. Allan Diez, Secretariat Chair Gogo Alba, Maning Eva of Multicar and Engr. Enrico Vanta of Chadric Builders. With added support from Robert "Bob" Bula, MTCA President Atty. Jong Guevarra and Tony Dacudao.