Gonzales leads 19 Cebuano qualifiers to National Age-Group Chess C'ships

CEBU, Philippines - Danao City’s Alphecca Gonzales and 18 other Cebuano pawnpushers advanced into the grand finals of the 2012 National Age-Group Chess Championships after topping their respective divisions in the Visayas qualifying tournament yesterday at the Gov. Corazon L. Cabagnot Tourism and Training Center in Kalibo, Aklan.

They will join the other top qualifiers from Luzon and Mindanao in the national finals set from April 23 to 30 in Tanauan, Batangas. The overall champion will earn berths to the 2012 Asian Youth Championships on June 23-30 in Sri Lanka.

Of the Cebuano qualifiers, only Gonzales earned the right to represent the Philippines in the 2012 ASEAN Age-Group Chess Championships on June 10-20 in Hue, Vietnam after topping the girls 8-under division.

Jasia Dorog of Cebu City, Regina Catherine Quiñanola of Malabuyoc and Vladimir Robillos of Mandaue City occupied the rest of the spots in the said category.

Allan Pason placed second the 16-under category. The other qualifiers were Jazelle Villarin of the University of San Carlos (USC), Felix Shaun Balbona of Cebu City and Diego Abraham Claro of Mandaue City.

Vic Glysen Derotas of USC, Cherry Mae Caballes of Cebu City, Chris Aldritz Pondoyo of the University of Cebu, James Andrew Balbona of Cebu City and Duane Borgonia Duane of Brgy. Guba qualified in 12-under class.

The other qualifiers were Glesit Marie Tatoy from San Fernando and Jeremy Pepito from USC in the 10-under, USC’s Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano, Ryan Pacris and John Francis Balbona in the 14-under and Jessa Marie Balbona in the 20-under. - THE FREEMAN