Oshrie Jhames “OJ” Reyes says he is ready for war when he goes up against Clark Jemuel “CJ” Cabatian in the Bayanihan Chess Club Chess Blitz Online Face Off Series 5 p.m. today, Friday, November 20, 2020, at lichess.org.
“I trained hard for this fight so I can give a good show for chess fans,” said nine-year-old Pinoy chess prodigy Reyes, who hails from Dila-Dila, Santa Rita, Pampanga.
“It’s also an excellent training for me for the coming local, national and international tournaments before the year ends,” said Reyes, who is scheduled to represent the country in the upcoming FIDE Online World Cadets & Youth Rapid Chess Championships on November 27 to December 13, 2020.
Reyes, then a grade 4 pupil of EZEE School in Guagua, Pampanga won three silver medals in the boys under 8 division of the 9-day 20th ASEAN Age Group Chess Championships 2019 held from June 10 to 18, 2019 at the Golden Mandalay Hotel and Hotel Hazel in Mandaly City, Myanmar.
Cabatian is a grade five pupil of Bienvenido R. Fojas Memorial Elementary School. He is one of the top players of General Trias City chess team under the guidance of coach Ederwin Estavillo. He defeated Thunpisit Pa-In of Thailand in the final round to win the nine-round tournament, under-8 category of the Thailand Pattaya Youth Chess Championship held in Bay Beach Resort Pattaya, Banglamung, Chin Buried in Pattaya, Thailand October 20 to 24, 2018.
“I feel honored to be invited to play against one the country’s best kiddy player and I promise to play my best,” said the 10-year-old Cabatian.
“It’s a very interesting match,” said Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia based Jimmy Reyes, father/coach of OJ Reyes.
A race-to-5, 3 minutes plus 2 seconds increment, the Match Up Series is set to give Philippine chess another milestone thru online games. The event is sponsored General Trias City Chess Club.