by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines—Fifteen-year-old Lexie Grace Hernandez of Angeles City, Pampanga became the country’s newest Woman National Master (WNM) after winning the 2021 National Age Group Hybrid Chess Championships Grandfinals Under-16 division held online via the Tornelo platform from June 22 to 25, 2021.
Hernandez, a Grade 9 student of Holy Angel University (HAU) in Angeles City, Pampanga under the watch of Sports coordinator Ryan Sabinian, HAU Coach Daril Parales and Angeles City Coach Jose “Fer” Camaya, scored 9 points on nine wins and two loses in the tournament that had a standard time control and a single round-robin format.
Hernandez scored huge wins against Glysdi Santos Aghon in the first round, Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Jerlyn Mae San Diego in the second round, Rinoa Marie Sadey in the third round, Ayana Nicole Usman in the fourth round, Angela Joelle San Luis in the fifth round, Jamelin Ruth Lim in the sixth round, Princes Louise Oncita in the seventh round, Francesha Largo in the eight round and Karol Josef De Guia in the tenth round.
Her loses to Samantha Babol Umayan in the ninth round and Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian in the eleventh and final round.
Sebastian came second with 8.5 points followed by third placer Lim who totes 7.5 points.
With her latest feat, Hernandez earned an outright WNM title, P3,000 top purse and is set to represent the country in the Asian and World Age Group events later this year.
Lexie’s long-time supporter was very proud and thankful for her successful showing in the competition.
“Congratulations on your well-deserve victory newly-minted WNM (Lexie Grace) Hernandez. Lexie’s achievement is all the more notable and exemplary given the challenges that everyone-most especially chess players like her and her fellow competitors—have had to face gruelling qualifying round to advance in the Grandfinals,” said Sportsman Jimmy Reyes, one of the board of directors of Bayanihan Chess Club under the leadership of it’s co-founding chairman Dr. Joe Balinas and Engr. Antonio “Uncle Paps” Balinas.
Organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in close cooperation with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). Tournament Director is NCFP Chief Operating Officer Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales while Chief Arbiter is IA Reden Cruz and assisted by FNA Rafael Cayanan and FNA Gabriel Prevandos.