Cebu bets put up good fight in early rounds
It may not be the best start they had hoped for but the promising Cebuano pawnpushers still managed to keep the Philippine flag flying high in the early rounds of the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Open Age Group Championships 2017 at the Grand Darulmakmur Hotel in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.
Krisen Yochabel Marie Sanchez and Palarong Pambansa gold medallist Regina Catherine Quinanola, both competing for first time on the international stage, are by far the best placed among the five Cebu bets seeing action in the 10day tilt.
After three rounds of action, Sanchez stays perfect after outsmarting her Malaysian rivals Zahmiza Zin, Zhiwei Ong and Desirra Pereira to earn a share of the temporary lead in the girls 12 Under with her compatriot Jerlyn Mae San Diego and Laysa Latifah of Indonesia.
Quinanola is currently at joint second and third with fellow Pinay Ruth Joy Vinuya in the girls Under 14 with 2.5 points behind Women Candidate MNaster Jia-Tien Chua of host Malaysia with 3.0 points.
Quinanola, who hails from Malabuyoc town south of Cebu, settled for a draw with En Xin Esther Tang in between wins over Nur Faiqah Aminuddin and Ong Zhiqian.
In the same category, Quinanola's fellow Cebuana entry Alpecca Gonzales currently stands at eighth with 2.0 points. After long to Tang in her opening assignment, she bounced back with back-toback victories over Prushotman Tharsik and Nur Faiqah Aminuddin to stay in contention.
In the boys Under 14, Jave Mareck Peteros is at eight spot with 2.0 points in a tie with his fellow countryman Daniel Cuizon. He opened his campaign with consecutive draws with Nik Muhd Haziq Nik Norhisham and Chi Hung Jonathan Auyeung before edging Radzuan Muhd Harith Fahm Mohd for his first win.
Laila Camel Nadera is at ninth in the girls Under 20 with one point. She lost to Women FIDE Master Allaney Jia Doroy in the first round before fighting to a standoff with WFM Reguita Desyari Putri and Sara Francine Olendo.
Except for Gonzales, all four Cebuanos are varsity players from the University of San Carlos (USC).