The MGCNLCA Chess team scored major victories in its face to face tournament reunion last August 27, 2022 at the Robinsons Metro East.
Allie Ong and Davin Romualdez emerged in 2nd and 5th place, with 5.5 and 5 points respectively, in the Under 18 Division in the first HubzStar Developmental Chess Tournament.
Meanwhile, in the Under 12 Division, Caleb Garcia, Caleb Pikache-David, and Danry Romualdez placed fifth, sixth, and tenth place respectively with 5 points each. The tournament was organized by one of MGC New Life Christian Academy’s (MGCNLCA) coaches, Hubert Estrella.
The tournament, rated for both the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and Fédération Internationale Des Échecs (FIDE)—French for World Chess Federation—is a seven-round tournament with 15 minutes and a 5-second bonus after every move with two divisions, which were the Under 12 and Under 18 Divisions.
When asked about her expectations of the tournament, second-placer Allie Ong said, “Not really (winning), my goal was just to have fun and enjoy the experience. It wasn’t a goal for me to get a high ranking, but I ended up with a high ranking.”
Even before this tournament, the MGCNLCA chess team faced success during the pandemic due to Romualdez, Ong, and Garcia’s appearance in this year’s National Age Group Finals.
Unlike the finals of the national age group, which included qualifying tournaments, this chess tournament was open to everyone who were under the age groups of their respective divisions regardless of their membership status with the NCFP.
In addition to MGCNLCA’s success, the face-to-face reunion was also a team bonding experience. Davin noted about the strengthening of team chemistry, “Yes, it [the tournament] does because, after the games, you get to talk to your fellow chess players and interact with them ...”
Elliot Albano, Cindy Xing, Flyde Yulangco, Kaden Lim, and Fia Yulangco were other New Lifers who joined the tournament.
For Coach Estrella, he not only reconnected with his MGCNLCA students, but he also encountered his students from Chang-Kai-Shek and Hubzstar Chess Center. Estrella noted, “Actually, meeting with them is already a success,” but he admitted that getting these players more enthusiastic about playing is more important.
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