FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY’S (FEU) John Jerish Velarde doesn’t give up on his dream of becoming a GM like Daniel Quizon.
And the 18-year-old Far Eastern University star from Lapu Lapu, Cebu took an important step towards it after coming out on top in the Philippine Amateur Chess Championships at Robinson’s East in Pasig over the weekend.
Mr. Velarde, who received the title of National Master when he was only 12 out of 19th The ASEAN Age Group tilt in Davao defeated Ricardo Batcho in the seventh and final round to dominate the three-day event with 6.5 points.
With his performance, Velarde pocketed the top purse worth P25,000 courtesy of teammate NM Srihaan Poddar and earned a rating of 91.6 points leapfrog from 1902 before that to 1993.6.
Although he still has mountains to climb before becoming a GM like Mr. Quizon, Mr. Velarde, with more hard work and sacrifice, vowed to never stop pursuing it.
Christian Marcelo Olaybal defeated Johnny Wellem Carzano and then separated John Lee Antonio and Jones Maghuyop in the highest tiebreaker to claim second place with six points.
Mr. Antonio, who defeated Narciso Gumila, Jr., took third place and Mr. Maghuyop, who defeated Carlo Magno Rosaupan, finished fourth again with six points each.
The top ten were Mr. Batcho, Tristan Cervero, Edwin Tendencia, Mar Aviel Carredom, Carzano and Lance Nathaniel Orlina and April Joy Claros from Far Eastern University and Alwin Sopungco who took the best woman and the top plums, respectively.
The tournament is part of the country’s efforts to allow Filipino athletes to use FIDE points to determine their chances of winning international titles. – Joey Villar