MAKATI City’s pride, reigning national youth champion Francois Marie Magpily, and Philippine Sportswriters Association awardee Al-Basher Buto of Cainta, Rizal spearheaded the champions in the recent 2018 National Age Group Chess Championships Luzon leg at the Ramon Magsaysay Technonogical University in Iba, Zambales.
Magpily, one of the country’s four bets in the 2017 World Youth Championships, turned the tables on Dasmariñas City’s Kylen Joy Mordido, ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships multi-gold medalist, prevailing via tiebreak in the U20 girls category.
Buto, AAGCC multi-gold medalist and 2017 Asian Schools Chess Championships gold medalist, had a more impressive showing. He finished with an unblemished slate in the U8 category.
Sharing the limelight with Buto by also submitting perfect scores in the chessfest sponsored by Province of Zambales under ardent chess enthusiast Gov. Amor D. Deloso and Philippine Sports Commission and organized by National Chess Federation of the Philippines under Congressmen Butch Pichay and Bambol Tolentino, chairman & president and secretary general, respectively, were Leonel Escote (U16) and John Marx Anastacio (U18).
Philippine Sports Hall of Famer GM Eugene Torre, NCFP executive director and deputy secretary general Red Dumuk and RMTU sports director Robert Alvin Yap awarded the prizes to the top 10 performers in each age group.
The podium finishers included: boys U20- Genesis Mateo Borromeo, Daniel Quizon & Nelson Busa, Jr.; U18- Anastacio, Israelito Rilloraza & Carl Anthony Canio; U16-Escote, John Ruiz Bravo & Jarvey Labanda; U14- Cyrus Vladimir Francisco, Justine Diego Mordido & Jasper Faeldonia; U12- Mark Jay Bacojo, Elijah Josh Opriasa & Oscar Joseph Cantela; U19- Gladimir Chester Romero, Joseph Raphael Vergara & James Gilbert Bragais; U8- Buto, Archeon Mer Bautista & Clark Jemuel Cabatian; Girls U20- Magpily, Mordido & Viona Nepascua; U18- Jesca Docen, Maycydel Fajardo & Vic Glysen Derotas; U16- Jarel Renz Lacambra, Natsja Jasmine Balabbo & Queenie Mae Samarita; U14- Rohanisah Buto,Ruth Joy Vinuya & Ma. Elayza Villa;U12- Franchesca Largo, April Joy Claros & Raiza Mae Locmayoan; U10- Daren de la Cruz, Mecel Angela Gadut & Jane Helen Aragones; U8- Jean Antonette Brade, Iyael Sam Pagala & Franiel Angela Pagala.
The top 3 winners earned slots in the NAGCC Grand Finals to be hosted by Capiz Provincial Government headed by Gov. Antonio del Rosario at Capiz Provincial Capitol and Capiz Gymnasium, Roxas City May 5 to 12.
The gold, silver and bronze medalists in the NAGCC Grand Finals will compose the core of the Team Philippines that will defend its title in the ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships to be staged jointly by ASEAN Chess Confederation also headed by Cong. Pichay and NCFP in cooperation with Davao City Government headed by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.