The Philippine chess team captured 3 gold medals in the just-concluded ASEAN Age Group Chess Championship Zone 3.3 virtually held via Tornelo Platform Thursday.
National Master John Dalde Velarde of Lapu-Lapu City stood out among the PH team members, topping the Under-16 Open category aside from helping his team win the team gold.
Other members of the victorious squad were Michael Jan Stephen Rosalem Inigo of Bayawan City and Cedric Kahlel Abris of Mandaluyong City.
The 15-year-old Velarde, a Grade 9 student of Marie Ernestine School, scored 8.0 points on 7 wins and 2 draws in the 9-round competition. His team tallied 19 points.
National Master Ivan Travis Cu of San Juan City stamped his class once again to rule the Under-14 Open Division and accounted for the country’s third gold.
The 13-years-old Cu, a Grade 7 student of Xavier School, San Juan City, prevailed after collecting 7.5 points, edging out Vietnamese Dang Khoa Bui (7.0) and compatriot National Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca of Panabo City, Davao del Norte (6.5)
In the Under-14 Open team event, they settled for silver.
Woman National Master Ruelle Canino of Cagayan de Oro City scored 7.5 points and settled for second place in the Under 14 Girls Division.
Canino, Ryien Bahita of Canlaon City and AFM Yaneah Sofia Morada of Tuguegarao City nabbed the silver medal in the team category of the Under-14 Girls Division.
