Olympiad veteran Ruelle Canino waylaid Yuri Paraguya to seize a share of lead with Phil Martin Casiguran after three rounds of the premier Under-18 open section of the National Age Group Chess Championships at the FPJ Arena in San Jose, Batangas.
Canino, who beat women Grandmasters in last year’s Budapest Olympiad, now has three points in joining Casiguran, who smashed Khent Lourence Canas, at the helm of this three-day event sponsored by CoinEx.
The winner per category of this meet, which drew a total of 502 participants from all over the country, will represent the country in the Asian Schools Chess Championships slated Dec. 1 to 11 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Grandmaster Eugene Torre, host Mayor Ben Patron and Cong. Mark Lester Patron, NCFP chief executive officer GM Jayson Gonzales, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna and CoinEx Filipino country manager Del Omasas ushered in the tournament in simple rites.
Canino was half a point ahead of a five-player group paced by top seed FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca, who was slowed down by a draw with John Cyrus Borce.
April Joy Claros defeated Sara Dalagan to lead the way in the girls ‘ U18 alongside Jersey Marticio and Kate Nicole Ordizo with perfect three points.
