Singapore—A sibling duo of chess wizards are earning fans and making history while they’re at it.
Siblings Ivan Travis and Jericho Winston Cu brought the country much honor despite participating for the first time in an international chess tournament. They spearheaded the PH kids’ chess team to victory at the 36th Singapore National Age Group Chess Championships held at the Expo MAX Atria here from December 27 to 30, 2019.
Unrated 28th seed Ivan Travis defeated Oscar Gao (elo 1595) of Australia in the eighth and final round to finish 2nd place overall in the Boys 10 and under. Ivan Travis who amassed a 7-1 win-loss record earned a rating of 1622 for his effort.
Top seed Zi Han Goh (elo 2094) of Singapore, who inflicted the only loss of Ivan Travis in Round 5, won the coveted title with a perfect score of 8 points. He bested 3rd seed Alexandre Km Lee (elo 1557) of England in the final canto.
Not to be outdone, younger brother Jericho Winston took overall 8th place in the Boys 9 and under. He scored 5.5 points after beating Shravan Shetty Kashyap of India in the last round.
Hao Loong Yee of Malaysia won the Boys 9 and under after winning in tiebreak points against fellow 6.5 pointer and eventual runner-up placer Kunal Patil Aditya of India.
The Singapore chess campaign of the siblings was supported by Xavier School Athletic Director Larry De Las Penas, Chess Coach IA Rolando “Rolly” Yutuc, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) thru its Deputy Secretary-General and Executive Director FA Red Dumuk.
Meanwhile, Singapore based Pinoy Jayson Jacobo Tiburcio tallied 5.5 points in the Boys Under 11 for overall 8th place while Jillianne Cait Keesha Micarsos landed at overall 10th place in the Girls Under 7 with 5 points.
Other Filipino children who saw action are Singapore based Arcege Tan Castillo (4.5 points, Boys Under 11, overall 23rd place); Jewelle Iris Anacio (3 points, Girls Under 7, overall 20th place) and Dastan Earl Bueno ( 2.5 points, Boys Under 9, overall 52nd place).