MANILA — Filipino Fide master (FM) Christian Gian Karlo Arca clinched the blitz gold medal at the 18th Asian Schools Chess Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday night, December 10, 2024.
Arca secured the top spot after drawing with fellow Filipino National Master (NM) Oscar Joseph Cantela in the ninth and final round, then edging Turkmenistan’s Serdar Bayramov via a tiebreak.
Arca and Bayramov finished with 7.5 points, but Arca claimed the gold through the win-over-the-other rule, having defeated Bayramov in their third-round matchup.
NM Cantela narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth after tying with Mongolian FM Khishigbat Ulziikhishig for third place. The tiebreak favored Ulziikhishig, leaving Cantela just outside medal contention.
“I would like to dedicate this victory to my countrymen,” said the 15-year-old Arca, a Grade 10 student of Panabo City National High School.
Meanwhile, Lemmuel Jay Adena of the Philippines placed in the top 10, scoring six points in the blitz event.
Arca’s gold medal adds to his impressive haul from the competition, having earlier secured two silver medals in the individual and team standard events alongside teammates Cantela and Adena.
The Philippines also celebrated a team bronze in the rapid event, thanks to the efforts of Arleah Cassandra Sapuan, Kate Nicole Ordizo, and Beatrice Ann Bombales. -Marlon Bernardino
