The country’s best and brightest young woodpushers will get to test their mettle and clash over the board for the first after a two-year pandemic hiatus in the Philippine National Juniors Championships slated Friday at the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence building in Mindanao Ave., Quezon City.
FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri and Vic Glysen Derotas will be the player to watch out for in the field of 20 players—10 boys and 10 girls—that made the nine-round tournament via the online qualifiers.
Jeremiah Luis Cruz, Karlycris Clarito, Jr., Khent Darylle Delig, Adrian Othniel Yulo, Jarvey Labanda, Christian Marcelo Olaybal, Israelito Rilloraza, Johnmari Joseph Lu and Ronald Canino complete the boys’ cast.
The girls’ section will also be composed of Ma. Eliza Villa, Rinoa Mariel Sadey, Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian, Bea Mendoza, Jarel Renz Lacambra, Lexi Grace Hernandez, Precious Eve Ferrer, Ruelle Canino and Darlyn Villanueva.
Winners of this event will receive cash prizes plus berths to next year’s Philippine National Championships and become one of the country’s bets in international events like the Asian and World Juniors Championships also next year.
Nouri, 15, has been touted as one of the favorites being the country’s youngest to ever claim the FM title at seven years old in this four-day meet supported by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez, NCFP president Butch Pichay, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino and Chess Movement, Inc. chairman Dr. Ariel Potot.
“This our first over-the-board tournament after holding online tournaments in the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic so everybody is just excited to play,” said NCFP chief operating officer Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, who said they will implement strict health guidelines.
The 20-year-old Derotas, for her part, is fancied to claim the crown in the girls’ side having ruled this same competition when this same event was done face-to-face two years ago at the Alphaland in Makati City.
Jeth Romy Morado won the last juniors crown two years ago.