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Danang, Vietnam— John Ray Batucan of Davao City settled for a quick draw against Tran Tuan Minh of Vietnam, in yesterday’s ninth and final round to dominate the Standard event of the Boys' 12-and-under division of the Asean Age Group Chess Championships at the Danang Hotel, here.
Batucan finished with 7.5 points to give the Philippines its second gold medal after National Master Edmundo Legaspi topped the Seniors Division on Friday.
The country bagged its third gold medal when Batucan, Vince Angelo Medina and Karl Angelo Perez topped the boys team event in the same age group.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., expressed elation over Batucan’s impressive feat.
“Ito ang nagpapatunay na maraming mga kabataan natin kailangan lamang silang suportahan at mabigyan ng break sa local at international tournament,” said Pichay, who is scheduled to arrive here yesterday.
RP head coach and Istanbul Olympian IM Idelfonso Datu is optimistic that the Philippines can win more medals in the rapid and blitz events.
Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University incoming second-year-high school student Jan Emmanuel Garcia, bagged the silver medal in the Boys 14-and-under after notching 7.0 points. He drew with Yeap Eng Chiam of Malaysia yesterday.
In the Boys 8 and under, Kyle Emmanuel Ochoa also won silver after accumulating 6.5 points with a final round draw with Hoang Tan Duc of Vietnam.
Ochoa along with Haince Patrick de Leon and Daniel John Lemi combined for 16.5 points to win silver in the team event.
In the Boys' 16 and under, Alcon John Datu beat Duong Thuong Cong of Vietnam in 36 moves of a Queen's Pawn Game to score 6.5 points good for a silver medal.
Datu then teamed up with Narquingden Reyes and Loren Brigham Laceste to bag the silver in the team competition.
In the distaff side, Jean Karen Enriquez, Rowelyn Acedo and Maria Ysabelle Semillano bagged the team silver medal in the Girls 12 and under class. Also winning silver is the girls 14-under trio of Jodilyn Fronda, Cherry Ann Mejia and Judith Pineda.
In the Girls' 16 and under, Jedara Docena, Akiko Chairmaine Suede, and Christy Lamiel Bernales won the silver medal while the country’s U-18 squad of Kimberly Jane Cunanan, Lovelyn Medina and Ronna Reginer Senora also finished second.
Jedara Docena bagged an individual bronze in the Girls 16-U with 6.0 points.
