Velarde scores 2 more draws in PSC chess
JERISH John Velarde scored two more draws in his first campaign against older players at the 2016 PSC-Puregold International Chess Challenge Challenger Division competition at the Subic Bay Peninsula Hotel in Olongapo City.
After his monumental draw with NM John Merill Jacutina in the opening round of the Fide rated 9-Rounds Swiss System tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Velarde scored two more draws, as he progressed slowly in the tough competition.
In Round 3, the 10-year old Velarde drew with Isaac Chavez, who is three times older than him, in a tactical match that lasted for more than three hours and 30 minutes. He then settled to a draw with female player, Venice Vicente, 19, of Far Eastern University chess team.
Velarde’s next opponent is the 12-year old and higher rated Justine Diego Mordido, whom he played in Round 5 yesterday afternoon.
Both Velarde and Mordido carried 1.5 points into the game with the latter holding a 1-win, 2-loses and one draw card. His win was against Cebuana Glesit Marie Tatoy in Round 4.
Mordido was among those players who were with Velarde during the Philippines’ fruitful stint in the Fide World Schools Chess Championships 2015 in Pattaya, Thailand. Tatoy for his part scored a draw with Jemima Valdez in Round 3.