WITH the best female players around, can their male chess counterparts stand up the challenge this time around?
This will be known in the 3rd Opol Eagles Club Chess under-13 tournament which unfolds here Saturday, May 27, at MED Learning Center, ground floor of the Primavera Residences near SM Uptown.
Last year, female combatants led by Lynn Jael Maureal of Casisang National High School in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, and Me Ann Baclayon of Manticao, Misamis Oriental dominated the annual tourney that lured in 106 participants.
Maureal and Baclayon then made a stunning 1-2 finish ahead of the boys with the Bukidnon lass posting a perfect 7 points. Joining them in the top-5 with 6 points each were Charles Klent Gabing of Corpus Christi, Euniel Grant Capilitan of Fr. Mastersons Elementary School and Loribina Carrasco of West City Central School.
Newly-crowned Barangay 29 knock-out kiddies chess champion David Rey Ancheta of Corpus Christi will try to spoil the all-female party at the top, though it won’t be an easy job for the promising CCS Knight.
Ancheta may have ruled on Sunday in Barangay 29, but behind him in strong contention were at least five females who all made it to the quarterfinals.
Spicing up the third edition of the Opol Eagles-backed chessfest is the participation of 2017 Palarong Pambansa gold medalist Gwen Escarda.
“Dili malikayan nga ma-excite kita ini nga development nga atong mga babae maka-compete na head-on sa mga lalake ining dula sa ahedres nga pa-utokay,” arbiter Lorenzo Cuizon told VoxPop Cagayan de Oro.
The champion will get the lion’s share of P2,000 cash and trophy with the rest of the top-5 finishers out to receive P1,500, P1,000, P700, and P500 plus medals.
