Aklanon woodpusher bags gold, silver in ASEAN+ Age Group championships

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

An eight-year old chess player from Kalibo, Aklan claimed the gold and silver in the Girls 8-under standard and rapid chess categories of the 15^th ASEAN+ Age Group Championships at the Cotai Sands Conference Centre in Macau, China from June 3 to 12. 

Precious Day Ame Yecla, grade 3 pupil of Saint Dominic School of Kalibo, beat the veteran players from Vietnam, China, Singapore, Mongolia, Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines in the nine-round Swiss system chess tournament.

The lowest-ranked Yecla defeated Yuen Ching Natalie Lian of Singapore, compatriot Manlosa Casey, Hong Nhung Nguyen of Vietnam in the first three rounds. 

Yecla absorbed her first defeat in the 4^th round against Sun Yucan of China.

In the fifth round, Yecla clobbered Min Yang of Korea and Zi Xuan Haw of Singapore in the sixth round.

Yecla also edged top seed Ngoc Phuong Nghi Bui of Vietnam in the 7^th round and Thuy My Dung Doan of Vietnam in the eighth round.

In the penultimate round, Yecla defeated another Vietnamese player Ngoc Minh Chau Nguyen. 

Yecla clinched the gold with eight points, via superior tie breaks. The top-seeded Ngoc Phuong Nghi Bui of Vietnam placed second while Sun Yucan of China took third place with seven points. 

Meanwhile, Yecla also bagged the silver in Girls 8-under rapid chess behind Ha Bich Ngoc Luu of Vietnam.

Yecla, the lone Aklanon chess player in the Philippine team competing in this year’s age group championships, had six wins and a lone defeat in the seven-round chess tourney.