by Ed Andaya
VIETNAM, as expected, is back as champion in the 19th ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships at the Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City.
And the Vietnamese did it the old-fashioned way: winning big in both the standard and rapid events and doing just enough in the blitz side of the three-part competitions.
Bannered by players barely in their teens but talented enough to someday take over the chess world, the Vietnamese captured 70 golds, 52 silvers and 30 bronzes at the end of the week-long competition organized by Chess Events international in cooperation with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Davao City government..
That’s more than enough to dislodge the Philippines as the overall champion in this annual age-group tournament which local organizers billed as breeding ground for the next Wesley So and Janelle Frayna but turned out to be a showcase of Vietnam’s future world beaters
The Filipinos’ haul — 55 golds, 45 silvers and 26 bronzes – was considered respectable enough even though their best effort at home failed to prevent the Vietnamese from reclaiming the title they coveted since losing it to their ASEAN neighbors in absentia in Malaysia last year.
“Congratulations to Vietnam for a very impressive and dominant performance in winning the overall 19th ASEAN Age-Groups Championships 2018. Vietnam had just too much strength in depth – their better training showed – but defending Philippines on home ground can be proud of the fight it put up and can also savour the many fine individual results which point to a bright future for many of their young talents,” said well-known Malaysian journalist Peter Long in his Facebook post.
Mission accomplished
The 105-strong Vietnamese delegation was all business the moment the prestigious, eight-nation tournament held in the Philippines’ started last June 18.
Mission accomplished for Vietnam.
As expected, the Vietnamese struck hardest in the lower age categories with near shutout victories in the boys and girls 14-under, 12-under, 10-under and 8-under in standard, rapid and blitz.
Boys 12-under standard champion Nguyen Quoc Hy and girls 8-under standard winner Dang Le Xuan Hien both even posted perfect 9//9 to underscore their dominance.
Nguyen Quoc Hy also bagged the golds in the boys 12-under rapid with 5.5/7 and 12-under blitz with 8.5/9 to complete a personal sweep.
Dang Le Xuan Hien was the star of the show in the girls 8-under with two golds in standard (9/9) and blitz (8/9) snd silver in rapid (5.5/7).
Home sweet home
It was not an all-Vietnam in beautiful Davao, however.
Batumi Olympiad-bound WFM Shania Mae Mendoza and Daniel Quizon emerged as multiple gold medalists for the host nation with four mints each in individual and team events.
Mendoza, the winningest Filipina player with four golds, outdueled WIM Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien of Vietnam to clinch the gold in the premier girls’ 20-under with eight points on seven wins and two draws.
Equally impressive was Quizon, whose four-gold medal haul included the blitz gold capped by three straight victories over Nguyen Lam Thien of Vietnam and compatriots Michael Concio and Jasper Faeldonia for 8.5/9.
Two-time World Chess Olympiad veteran IM Paulo Bersamina also did not disappoint
The National University standout, who played in his final AAGCC, bagged the gold in 20-under standard (7.5/9) and shared first place in rapid (5/7) and blitz (6.5/9).
Counting the team golds, the Pasay City-based Bersamina captured six golds.
More importantly, he earned a coveted GM norm.
Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano (U20), Darry Bernardo (U18), FM Alekhine Nouri (U16), WFM Allaney Jia Doroy (girls U18), Francois Marie Magpily (girls U16) and Ruelle Canino (girls U10), also provided the other individual victories for the Philippines in blitz side that averted the Vietnam sweep.
Another notable achiever was UAAP champion Far Eastern University team, headed by Chairman Aurelio Montinola, Athletic Director Mark Oliver Molina, Manager Atty. Ruel Canobas and coach GM Jayson Gonzales.
FEU captured 17 golds, eight silvers and 2 two bronzes while attaining direct IM and WIM titles, WFM norns and FIDE title with IM norm.
Oldies but goodies during the competition were Filipinos Alex Lupian, who topped the senior standard with 7/9; Adrian Pacis, who dominated the rapid with 6/7; and Alex Milagrosa, who ruled the blitz with 7.5/9.
The complete results:
STANDARD (9 rounds)
Boys
20-under – 1. P. Bersamina (Phi) 7.5 points; 2. Jodi Setyaki Azarya (Ina) 6.5; 3.Jeevitesh J. Sai Agni (India) 6.
18-under — 1. D. Bernardo (Phi) 8; 2. J.Jacutina (Phi); 3. Tran Minh Thang (Vie) 6.
16-under — 1. R. Canino (Phi) 6.5; 2. Pham Phu Vinh (Vie) 6.5; 3. Bui Duc Huy (Vie) 6.5.
14-under — 1. Nguyen Lam Thien (Vie) 7; 2. Dao Minh Nhat (Vie) 6.5; 3. Mai Le Khoi Nguyen (Vie) 6.5.
12-under — 1. Nguyen Quoc Hy (Vie) 9; 2. J. Velarde (Phi) 6.5; 3. Vu Hoang Gia Bao (Vie) 6.5.
10-under — 1. Pham Tran Gia Phuc (Vie) 8; 2. Nguyen Le Minh Phu (Vie) 6.5; 3. Vu Ba Khoi (Vie) 6.5.
8-under — 1. Nguyen Vuong Tung Lam (Vie) 7; 2. Le Ngoc Minh Truong (Vie) 6.5; 3. A. Buto (Phi) 6.5.
Girls
20-under — 1. S.Mendoza (Phi) 7.5; 2. Dita Karenza (Ina) 6.5; 3. E. Moulic (Phi) 6.5.
18-under — 1. Kieu Bich Thuy (Vie) 7; 2. A. Doroy (Phi) 6.5; 3. Tran Phan Bao Khanh (Vie) 6.5.
16-under — 1.Bach Ngoc Thuy Duong (Vie) 7.5; 2. F. Magpily (Phi) 6.5; 3. I. Yngayo (Phi) 6.
14-under — Vuong Quynh Anh (Vie) 7; 2. Nguyen Thien Ngan (Vie) 7; 3. J. San Diego (Phi) 6.
12-under — 1. A. Racasa (Phi) 6.5; 2. Nguyen Hoang Thai Ngoc (Vie) 6; 3. Nguyen Thi Mai Lan (Vie) 6.
10-under — 1. K. Regidor (Phi) 7; 2. Nguyen Ngoc Hien (Vie) 6.5; 3. R. Canino ( Phi) 6.5.
8-under — 1. Dang Le Xuan Hien (Vie) 9; 2. Quan My Linh (Vie) 7.5; 3. Ngo Nha Ky (Vie) 6.5.
Seniors — 1. A. Lupian (Phi) 7; 2. Tong Thai Hung (Viet) 6.5; 3. A. Pacis (Phi) 6
RAPID (7 rounds)
Boys
20-under – 1. Nguyen Huynh Tuan Hai (Vie) 5; 2. P. Bersamina (Phi) 5; 3. R. Sevillano (Phi) 5.
18-under – 1. Tran Minh Thang (Vie) 7; 2. I. Rilloraza (Phi) 5; #. C. Sato (Phi) 5.
16-under – 1. Nguyen Anh Khoi (Vie) 5.5; 2. Ngo Duc Tri (Vie) 5.5; 3. Nguyen Lam Tung (Vie) 5.
14-under – 1. D. Quizon (Phi) 6.5; 2. Nguyen Lam Thien (Vie) 5.5; 3. M. Concio (Phi) 5.
12-under — Nguyen Quoc Hy (Vie) 5.5; 2. Vu Hong Gia Bao (Vie) 5.5; ; 3. J. Bacojo (Phi) 5.5.
10-under – -1. Nguyen Le MInh Phu (Vie) 6; 2. Tran Ngoc Duy (Vie) 6; 3. Pham Tran Phuc (Vie) 5.
8-under — 1. Le Pham Minh Duc (Vie) 5.5; 2. A. Buto (Phi) 5; 3. Pha Nguyen Thai Bao (Vie) 5.
Girls
20-under — 1. Vu Thi Dieu Ai (Vie) 5.5; 2. S. Mendoza (Phi) 5.5; 3. Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien (Vie) 4.5.
18-under — 1. F. Guirhem (Phi) 5.5; 2. G. Derotas (Phi) 5; 3. A.Doroy (Phi) 5.
16-under — 1. K. Mordido (Phi) 5.5; 2. J. Lacambra (Phi) 5.5; 3. M.Tan (Phi) 5.5.
14-under — 1. Pham Tran Gia Thu (Vie) 6; 2. Vu Bui Thi Thanh Van (Vie) 5.5; 3. Nguyen Thien Ngan (Vie) 5.
12-under — 1. Bui Ngoc Phuong Nghi (Vie) 5.5; 2. Doan Thuy My Dung (Vie) 5.5; 3. Nguyen Hoang Thai Ngoc (Vie) 5.5.
10-under — 1.Tran Thi Hong Ngoc (Vie) 5.5; 2. Bui Tuyet Hoa (Vie) 5.5; 3. D. dela Cruz (Phi( 5.
8-under — 1. Ngo Nha Ky (Vie) 5.5; 2. Dang Le Xuan Hien (Vie) 5.5; 3. Tong Thai Hoang An (Vie) 4.5.
Senior — 1. A.Pacis (Phi) 6; 2. A.Lupian (Phi) 5.5; 3. E. Gatus (Phi) 5.
BLITZ (9 rounds)
Boys
20-under — 1. K. Sevillano (Phi) 6.5; 2. Pham Minh Hieu (Vie) 6.5; 3 P. Bersamina (Phi) 6.5.
18-under — 1. D. Bernardo (Phi) 8; 2. Tran Minh Thang (Vie) 8; 3. J. Jacutina (Phi) 6.5.
16-under — 1. A. Nouri (Phi) 7.5; 2.S. Pangilinan (Phi) 7; 3. Nguyen Anh Khoi (Vie) 7.
14-under — 1. D. Quizon (Phi) 8.5; 2. Le Tri Kien (Vie) 8; 3. M. Concio (Phi) 6.
12-under — 1. Nguyen Quoc Hy (Vie) 8.5; 2. Bui Huy Phuoc (Vie) 7; J. Velarde (Phi) 6.5.
10-under — 1. Tran Ngoc Minh Duy (Vie) 7; 2. Pham Truong Phu (Vie) 7; 3. P. Srihaan (Vie) 6.5.
8-under — 1. Le Pham Minh Duc (Vie) 7; 2. Nguyen Vuong Tung Lam (Vie) 6.5; 3. Phan Nguyen Thai Bao (Vie) 6.5.
Girls
20-under — 1. S. Mendoza (Phi) 8; 2. K. Karenza (Ina) 7, 3. Nguyen Thi Minh Oanh (Vie) 6.5.
18- under — 1. A. Doroy (Phi) 7; 2. G. Derotas (Phi) 6.5; 3. A. Osena (Phi) 6.
16-under — 1. F. Magpily (Phi) 8.5; 2. Bach Ngoc Thuy Duong (Vie) 8; 3. Nguyen Vu Thu Hien (Vie) 6.
14-under — 1. Vuong Quynh Anh (Vie) 7.5; 2. Nguyen Thien Ngan (Vie) 6.5; 3. Luong Hoang Tu Linh (Vie) 6.5.
12-under — 1. Nguyen Phuc Yen Nhi (Vie) 7.5; 2. R. Pamplona (Phi) 7; 3. M. Alonzo (Phi) 7.
10-under — 1. R. Canino (Phi) 8; 2. K. Regidor (Phi) 8; 3. Nguyen Ngoc Hien (Vie) 7.
8-under — 1. Dang Le Xuan Hien (Vie) 8, 2. Nguyen Thanh Thuy (Vie) 8; 3. Quan My Linh (Vie) 6.
Senior — 1. A. Milagrosa (Phi) 7.5; 2. M. Mangubat (Phi) 6.5; 3. C.Caturla (Phi) 6.
More photos to be added soon.
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