Philippine youth chess team standout Al Basher Buto came through with a stellar performance this time and ruled the 2nd Jessie Villasin Cup online chess tournament undefeated in the event held via Lichess.org on Saturday.
The 11-year-old wunderkind from Faith Christian School in Cainta, Rizal racked up five wins and two draws for six points, half a point ahead of silver finishers John Curt Valencia of Dasmariñas City, Cavite and Christian Arca of Panabo City, Davao del Norte in the seven-round rapid tilt (five minutes plus five seconds increment time control).
Buto, who played for the national team in the 2020 FIDE Online World Cadets and Youth Rapid Chess Championships, beat Stephanie Jabagat of Puerto Princesa City, Quarl Vera Cruz of Misamis Oriental, Oshrie Jhames Reyes of Santa Rita, Pampanga, Arena GM Arca and Christian Tolosa of Imus, Cavite in the first five rounds.
The Filipino prodigy fondly called “Basty” in the chess community then split the points with Valencia and Gabriel Ryan Paradero of Pasig City in the last two rounds.
It was a redemption for Buto after settling for the second place behind Ivan Travis Cu of San Juan City in the inaugural staging of the Jessie Villasin Cup organized by the Mobile Chess Club Philippines Libangan Team. (Jeremiah Sevilla)
Pinay fencer almost perfect
Filipino fencer Sam Catantan delivered another solid performance for Penn State University as she went 10-1 in 11 bouts in Sunday’s Temple Invitational at the University Park in Pennsylvania.
The 19-year-old Catantan, a freshman for the Nittany Lions, was 3-0 against fencers from Temple University, St. John’s University and the University of North Carolina.
Prior to that, Catantan also went 3-0 in her foil event for Penn State in Saturday’s Ohio State Invitational against Ohio State University, Northwestern University and Notre Dame.
Her performance during the two invitational meets as well as during her debut early this month against Duke University and UNC where she had a 7-2 record gave her the inside track for a possible spot in the main draw of the US NCAA Fencing Championship next month.
“Wala pa pong official announcement, but I think pasok na ako sa NCAA (tournament),” said Catantan in a message exchange with Monday (Sunday night in the US).
“Sobrang saya ko talaga sa results, kasi sobrang kabado ako. Halos nine months walang maayos na training sa fencing due to the pandemic. May mga actions po ako na nawawala.” (Waylon Galvez)
Duathlon, cycling at PSA Forum
Sportsman and Standard Insurance Group Chairman Ernesto ‘Judes’ Echauz makes a rare appearance in the online session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday.
Echauz will talk about duathlon and road race events of cycling in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam where the Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance Philippines have entries.
He’ll also discuss in part, updates on local sailing, being the president of the Philippine Sailing Association.
Presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the weekly session starts at 10 a.m., with Upstream Media as official webcast partner and powered by Smart.
The Forum is livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and also shared by Radyo Pilipinas 2 Facebook page.
Manila Standard editor passes away
Manila Standard deskman/sportswriter Arman D. Armero died in his sleep on February 22, 2021 (Monday) after lingering heart and kidney ailments.
He was 59.
Armero is survived by his son Aaron Cham, mother Nena, siblings Adamar, Ernesto, Emily and Wilhelmina.
He began his media career as assistant sports editor of People’s Tonight in 1991 during the Manila Southeast Asian Games and filed for early retirement from the Journal Group of Publications in 2002. He then joined the Manila Standard as assistant sports editor in 2005, before being transferred to the desk a decade later.
Prior to his media work, Armero was a radio talent and copywriter.
He was also President of the Lyceum Journalism Society in 1984 and literary editor of The Lyceum from 1983 to 1985.
Details of his interment will be announced later.
