Garcia, Evangelista shine for PH in Asian Youth chess
SUBIC FREEPORT—Rising stars Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Paul Robert Evangelista swept their first two matches as the Philippines took off to a fine start in the 2011 Asian Youth chess championships at the Subic Bay Traveler’s Hotel Monday.
Garcia, an incoming high school senior at Ateneo, bested compatriot Dominique Lagula and Alisher Begmuratov of Uzbekistan, while Evangelista, a mainstay of UAAP champion Far Eastern U, stunned No. 6 seed Mhamal Amurag of India and No. 8 Ali Valizadeh of Iran in the boys’ 16-and-under category.
Haridas Pascua overpowered Zhao Zhouqiao of China in the boys’ 18-under to bounce back from his first-round setback to compatriot Prince Mark Aquino.
Lagula rebounded from his loss to Garcia to beat Choi Hang-suk of South Korea.
Jerad Docena tamed countryman Giovanni Mejia in the boys’ 14-under, where Raul Sol Cruz Jr. halved the point with Park Hyu-min of South Korea.
Two-time Olympian Cheradee Chardine Camacho beat Sachini Ranasinghe of Sri Lanka and drew with Iran’s Minoo Asgarizadeh in the girls’ 18-under class.
Mikee Charlene Suede outclassed Adele Lau Chuey Theng of Malaysia in another 18-under encounter.
Not as fortunate were Cristine Joyce Laz, who fell to Rucha Pujari, and Jan Jodilyn Fronda, who bowed to Altan Ulzii Enkhtuul of Mongolia.
In the girls’ 16 under play, Janelle Mae Frayna drew with Aida Ghaffarian of Iran but Jean Karen Enriquez bowed to P. Nandhidhaa of India.
Aklan champion Mira Mirano trounced M.K.T. Chankamie of Sri Lanka to lead the Filipinos’ campaign in the girls’ 14-under.
Also winning were Marie Antoinette San Diego, who beat Malaysian Sivanesan Nithyalakshmi, and Charlotte Paez, who dumped Sri Lankan Hasara Balasuruiya in the girls’ 12-under, and Jesa Docena, who trounced Vietnamese Bui Thanh Nha Truc in the girls’ 10-under.
The tournament opened last Sunday with two-time world under-8 champion Ivana Maria Furtado of India and NCFP president Prospero “Butch” Pichay making the ceremonial moves.
A one-minute silent prayer was observed to honor the late NCFP executive director Willie Abalos, who passed away on May 8.
Among those who attended the rites were Asian Chess Federation deputy vice president Toti Abundo, Olongapo Vice Mayor Rolen Paulino, chief arbiter Merhdad Pavhlavenzadeh, NCFP treasurer Red Dumuk, director Edmundo Legaspi and arbiter Gene Poliarco. Roy Luarca
