Pangasinan shows way in junior chess

MANILA, Philippines - Pangasinan bets continued to impress in the 2012 National Age Group and National Juniors Chess Championships at the Event Center in Tanauan, Batangas.

They were most impressive in the boys under-16, occupying the top three slots with Paul Robert Evangelista, Romy Fagon and Giovanni Mejia tallying six points each. The trio posted similar records of five wins, two losses and two draws for identical tiebreak total of 17 points.

Breathing down their necks were pre-tournament favorite Jerad Docena of Bohol and Christian Nanola of Calamba. Both players also tallied six points, but had fewer wins to show in their cards. Their four wins, four draws and one loss marks were only good for 16 tiebreak points.

The tournament employs a point system where a win is worth three points and a draw is equivalent to one point – meaning, a win and loss will earn more points than a couple of draws.

The other Pangasinan players on top were Dennis Gutierrez III in BU-10; Samantha Glo Revita in girls under-14; and Regyne Palaming in GU-10.

In the junior women’s Woman National Master Jedara Docena of Bohol toppled erstwhile co-leader Jan Jodilyn Fronda of Manila to grab the solo lead with 6.5 points.

Fronda, defending champion Janelle Mae Frayna of Legaspi and Christine Joyce Laz of Quezon City were a full point behind.

The national junior champions will represent the country in the 2012 World Junior Chess Championships in Athens, Greece while the category winners in age group competition will compete in the 2012 Asian Youth Championships in Sri Lanka.