THE country’s young players proved their mettle anew over the weekend, capturing 32 gold, 27 silver and 22 bronze medals in emerging as overall topnotchers in the Eastern Asian Youth Chess Championships at the Asian Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
They were the best performers among the 200 players from 12 countries who took part in the weeklong tournament and whose stint was funded by the Philippine Sports Commission, according to chess executive director Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales.
Gonzales said among the standouts were Dasmarinas native Christian Gian Carlo Arca, 13, who topped the boys 14-and-under standard event with 7.5 points that earned him an outright FIDE Masters title.
Arca also took a bronze in the individual rapid event and together with Ivan Travis Cu and John Cyrus Borce copped the silver in the team blitz event.
Gonzales cited National Chess Federation of the Philippines chairman and president Prospero Pichay Jr. in supporting the national team, which paid a courtesy call on PSC Chairman Noli Eala yesterday afternoon.
