by Marlon Bernardino
Jirah Floravie Cutiyog reigned supreme in the 1st Kagawad Wilson Fauni Rapid Invitational Chess Tournament held 6th April 2024 at the Imus National High School Covered Court Bucandala 3, Imus City, Cavite, Philippines.
Cutiyog scored a perfect 6.0 points against male opponents.
Cutiyog, a grade 9 student from Bethel Academy of General Trias City defeated Roger Abisan in the sixth and final round.
Her other victims were Thleser Nunez in the first round, Renato Agra in the second round , Genesis Jahk Andres in the third round, Deorico De Paz Jr. in the fourth round, and Yuri Lei Paraguya in the fifth round.
It shall be recalled that Cutiyog also won the 6th IACG (Inter-Agency Chess Group) Invitational Chess Tournament held at the Robinson Place Imus last March 23.
Cutiyog saw action in the 2023 World Youth Chess Championship held in Montesilvano, Italy last November. Among those who are supporting her chess campaign here and abroad are Mayor Luis Ferrer IV, Vice Mayor Jonas Glyn Labuguen, Cavite Sixth Dist. Rep. Antonio Ferrer, Sports Head Rodolfo Commandante Jr., Bethel Academy of General Trias Cavite and Arena FIDE Master Ederwin Estavillo.
Maryss Annxeniel Caldoza of Imus went on to place second overall with 5.5 points after beating Castelgandolfo Yray in the sixth and final round.
Caldoza defeated Charles Ivan Dionisio, Nichael John Gabato Albaracin, Danny Tan and Mark John Corral in the first and four rounds, respectively.
She snapped her four-match winning streak when he had a draw against Abisan.
Cutiyog and Caldoza are both top players of the star-studded Ederwin Estavillo Chess Academy. -Marlon Bernardino-