The MGCNLCA chess team outclassed their opponents in two tournaments this November, securing multiple awards and medals in the 2022 Eastern Asian Youth Chess Championship held from November 5 to 12, 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand, and in the St. Stephen’s High School Chess Invitational held last November 19, 2022.
2022 Eastern Asian Youth Chess Championship
In the 2022 Eastern Asian Youth Chess Championship, Davin Sean Romualdez from Nazareth D earned a FIDE Candidate Master title for achieving third in the individual classical time control event. He also won gold in the team event of the same time control, placed third in the individual, and won silver in the team blitz time control events.
Caleb Royce Garcia of Bethany D won silver in the individual rapid, gold in the team rapid, and ninth in the individual blitz. For the classical event, he achieved fourth individually and gold in the team division.
Bethany C’s Danry Seth Romualdez also participated in this tournament, obtaining fourth in the individual category and gold in the team event, both in the blitz timeframe.
St. Stephen’s High School Chess Invitational
The New Lifers participated in 3 age divisions, namely the under-12, under-16, and under-22 divisions in the St. Stephen’s High School Chess Invitational.
In the under-12 division, Garcia and Fia Jannae Yulango of Nazareth finished fifth and eighth, respectively. Iora Megan Garcia earned the top lady award.
Moving on to the under-16 division, Alexander Mark Zheng won third place, Allie Jean Ong won fourth place, Kyle Aidan Chua placed sixth, Elliot Xander Albano placed ninth, and Krisha Anne Ngo Hernandez received the Top Lady award.
Lastly, participating in the under-22 division, 12-year-old Davin Sean Romualdez placed fourth.
Overall, the MGCNLCA chess team had a very successful November, earning numerous awards and medals in two prestigious tournaments. The team's hard work and dedication to the game paid off. As Coach Hubert said, he just hopes they will improve more and become chess players at the college level one day.