By MARK REY MONTEJO
Amber Mariana Maravilla made heads turn by winning two gold medals in the recent 19th IGB Malaysian Chess Festival in Kuala Lumpur.
Representing ASEAN Chess Academy (ACA) Queen Bees, Maravilla, 11, copped her first gold when she joined forces with compatriots Kirsten Monique Roque and Reese Valerie Barbosa and Singaporean Xinyi Andrea Yap in winning the Merdeka Rapid Junior (U12) team championship.
In the Dato Tan Chin Nam Foundation tournament, Maravilla bested her rivals to rule the U12 Girls Individual class for her second gold.
A Grade 6 student at St. Paul College in Pasig, Maravilla started playing competitive chess only last year, but has been winning tough events for her school – thanks to the watchful eyes of coach Expedito Bolico Jr.
The ACA Queen Bees are being handled by Grandmaster Nelson “Jet” Mariano II.
Apart from the host country and the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and China also took part in the three-day event.
Meanwhile, Arena International Master (AIM) Gabriel Paradero reigned supreme in the U16 division of Age Group Chess Championship. He took the crown after collecting 5.5 points on five wins and one draw.
