Banawa reigns in ’Gapo chessfest

MANILA, Philippines — Jodiel Chloe Banawa, a five-year-old woodpusher from Alicia, Isabela, asked her father Joel, an International Master, to teach her chess a year ago out of curiosity.

Exactly a year after learning the royal game, she is now a national champion.

Banawa bested older opponents and topped the Under-8 girls division of the National Age Group Chess Championships at the SMX Convention Center in Olongapo City Saturday.

Banawa needed to win her first four matches that served as a cushion to her fifth and final-round defeat to Alaia Callie Rizare, and she claimed her biggest title to date.

She actually finished tied for first with Rizare, Chiara Vida Florendo and Zein Akee Fordan with four points apiece but ended up with the highest tiebreak, sealing her the crown in this event made possible by Olongapo City’s head of youth and sports David Bayarong and Joel Villanueva.

“Surprisingly, she (Jodiel) picked it up quickly,” said Banawa’s father, who heads Alicia, Isabela’s chess program.

Other winners in the Olongapo tilt were Oscar Joseph Cantela (U20 boys), Jemaica Mendoza (U20 girls), Phil Martin Casiguran (U18 boys), Darren dela Cruz (U18 girls), Keith Adriane Ilar (U16B), Celine Santillan (U16G), Marquis Angelo Malorca (U14B), Mary Angelo Bacojo (U14G), Marcus Jacutina (U12B), Khana Ventolero (U12G), Navi Icalina (U10B), Empress Anika Caole (U10G), and Bruce Wren Tatad (U8B).