THE Cagayan de Oro’s cream of the crop narrowly missed a chance of completing a historic finish in the just-concluded 2021 Philippine National Juniors Chess Championship.
This, after Woman National Master Ruelle ‘Tawing’ Canino and Adrian Othniel Yulo both, fell short in their respective efforts to sweep the junior girls and boys’ championships of the 10-person single round-robin tourney held over-the-board on Tuesday at PACE bldg in Quezon City.
The 13-year-old Canino, formerly with Barangay Kauswagan Elementary School, needed just a draw in the final round to become the youngest national junior girls champion. But she lost to Vic Glysen Derotas in the 9th and final round to settle for the runner-up honor with seven points.
Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian from the Cordillera Region, whom Canino defeated in the 6th round, improved to 7.5 points en route to bagging the crowning glory. While Derotas landed at third with her six-point output.
The pride of Xavier University Yulo, on the other hand, yielded early to eventual national juniors champion in Fide Master Alekhine Nouri (seven pts) in the 4th round but managed to bounce back with his 6.5 point-total worth for second place.
Cagayan de Oro compatriot Ronald Canino, Tawing’s older brother, edged out fellow six-pointer Istraelito Rilloraza of Las Piñas City to claim the third spot.
The small but terrible Tawing Canino shocked WNM Sebastian in 52 moves of the English Opening. Another marathon win over Bea Mendoza, who capitulated after 71 moves of a London System, apparently zapped the Oro chess wunderkind’s energy.
“I sensed that she was already drained out beginning in the penultimate eight-round where she overlooked a simple winning continuation against Mendoza. Playing with much older foes is not easy, she obviously fell to fatigue,” said Canino’s coach and trainer Jaime Joshua A. Frias II.
“I am very happy because this event is one of my dreams that I dedicate to my family, friends, my sponsor Senator Manny Pacquiao and to God,” said Nouri who will turn 16 on December 12.
The national juniors also served as the grand finals for the Asian Junior girls selection next year.
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