Datu, Camacho keep lead in Pangasinan age-group chessfest

Alcon John Datu and Cheradee Chardine Camacho pulled off similar impressive victories to keep the lead in their respective categories in the 2011 Pangasinan national age-group chess championships at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Complex gymnasium in Lingayen, Pangasinan. Datu, a mainstay of the Ateneo chess team under head coach and older brother Ildefonso Datu, outlasted Lennon Hart Salgados in 70 moves of the Queen’s Gambit Declined to take the lead with four straight wins in the centerpiece boys 18-years-old and under category. “Mahirap din yung laban namin kasi ilang beses na kaming nagharap noon kaya medyo alam na niya yung mga moves ko. Buti na lang nagkamali siya sa endgame kaya nakakuha ako ng pagkakataon," said the 17-year-old Datu. Camacho, the country’s highest-rated female player, humbled Cristine Joyce Lat to keep her perfect record in the girls 18-under division. Sharing the limelight in this five-day, seven-round competition organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in cooperation with the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (PACE) were Fide Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia, who demolished Dave Patrick Dulay, to take the lead in the boys 16-under, as well as Women’s Fide Master Cherry Ann Mejia, Janelle Mae Frayna and Brena Mae Menbrere, who beat their respective opponents to share the top spot in the girls 16-under. Mejia trounced Gladys Hazelle Romero, Frayna dumped Mikaela Concio, and Membrera downed Michelle Yaon in featured matches. Erstwhile co-leader Paul Robert Evangelista was held to a draw by Prince Mark Aquino to drop into second place behind Garcia with 3.5 points in the boys 16-under. In the boys 14-under class, Giovanni Mejia surprised Jerad Docnea to assume the lead with four points. Virgenie Ruaya, Shania Mae Mendoza and Merlene Membrere shared the lead in the girls 14- under. Ruaya and Mendoza battled to a draw, while Membrere humbled Chelsea Gallardo. Also keeping a share of the lead in the boys 12-under are Julius Gonzales and Emmanuel Van Paler, who both have 3.5 points. In the girls 12-under, Samantha Glo Revita and Marie Antoinette fought to a draw for the lead with 3.5 points. Fiona Geeweneth Guirhem beat Eliza Dianne Mapili for the solo lead in the girls 10-under with three points. Aside from trophies and cash prizes, the tournament offers slots to the coming Asian Youth Championship scheduled in Subic next month. - KY, RCJ, GMA News