University of Santo Tomas’ May Ann Alcantara and Letran’s Melito Ocsan Jr. bested their opponents to capture the girls and boys 20-under division crowns of the Gov. Amor Deloso National Age Group Chess Championships at the Zambales Sports Complex in Iba, Zambales.
Alcantara outlasted Bhea Buen Ecal in 69 moves of a Sicilian Defense to clinch the title with 10 points, three points ahead of runners-up Rizalyn Jasmine Tejada and Viona Nepascua.
Alcantara, Tejada and Nepascua’s finishes earned them spots in the Philippine team seeing action in the ASEAN Group Chess Championships in Myanmar in June.
Ocsan, meanwhile, first downed Romulo Curioso and then edged Jhoemar Mendiogarin in a tiebreaker for the boys plum.
Prior to the tiebreaker, Ocsan and Mendiogarin finished with identical 8.5 points.
Also sharing the limelight were Eric Labog Jr, who routed Duane Borgonia for the boys 18-under class with eight points, and Vic Glysen Derotas, who waylaid Jinym Santos for a 10-point title sweep in the girls 18-under.
Leonel Escote halved the point with Clyde Harris Saraos to snare the boys 16-under crown while Ma. Elayza Villa drew with Mary Joy Tan and then edged Ruth Joy Vinuya, who bashed Marian Calimbo, via a win-over-the-other tiebreak to emerge the girls 16-under winner. (Kristel Satumbaga)
