John Jerish Velarde and Jersey Marticio ruled the premier Under-18 division in the standard event of the National Age Group Chess Championships Eliminations Tuesday night at the Oriental Convention Center in Dumaguete City.
Velarde finished with 7.5 points out of the possible eight to rule the open division while Marticio swept all her eight games to top the girls’ side in spearheading the march to the Grand Finals slated June 22 to 30 in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte.
It was the second straight triumph for Velarde, a native of Lapu Lapu, Cebu who ruled the same open U18 section of the second Eugene Torre Cup just this late May at the Gateway 2 Activity Center in Cubao, Quezon City.
Also prevailing in the open class of the event presented by Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria were Gabriel Ryan Paradero (U16), Jaymiel Piel (U14), Sebastian Damonsong (U12) and John Kristoff Bautista (U10).
Meanwhile, Jirah Floravie Cutiyog (U18), Jemaicah Mendoza (U14), Cyreine Jean Borce (U12) and Khana Kathrine Ventolero (U10) were the other victors in the girls’ side.
The meet, which drew a record-breaking more than 500 participants, have staked slots to the Dapitan finals.
“The top eight of each category will clinch slots to the grand finals in Dapitan where we will have truly the best of the best,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines chief executive officer Jayson Gonzales.
