CAGAYAN de Oro City — Two young chess players from Mindanao helped power the Philippines to a historic 83-medal haul at the 24th ASEAN+ Age-Group Chess Championships in Singapore.
Five-year-old Jodiel Chloe Banawa of Isabela dominated the Girls Under-6 division, sweeping all six available gold medals in Standard, Rapid and Blitz, both individual and team events.
Her Standard victory was also the Philippines’ first-ever individual gold in the Girls Under-6 division in the tournament’s history.
Six-year-old Elisha Romarate of Dipolog City, making her international debut for Zamboanga del Norte, added six medals to the Philippine haul.
Romarate led the Girls U6 Standard standings for much of the tournament before meeting Banawa in a crucial Round 6 match.
Banawa won the clash to secure individual gold, while Romarate finished tied for second with 5.5/7 points and settled for bronze on tiebreaks behind India’s Aditi Nambiar.
Romarate bounced back in Rapid, winning individual silver behind Banawa for another 1-2 Philippine finish.
Mindanao duo sweep team golds
Banawa and Romarate, together with Rien Euri Villa of San Mateo, Rizal, completed a sweep of the Girls Under-6 team gold medals in Standard, Rapid and Blitz.
"What a debut on the international stage," said Romarate’s coach and father, Geronimo Romarate, who accompanied her along with delegation head GM Jayson Gonzales.
Both players came through national chess development programs. Romarate rose through the Philippine Sports Commission and National Chess Federation of the Philippines’ Batang Pinoy Chess Henyo program.
Their strong showing helped the Philippines finish second overall with a historic 83 medals, highlighting the growing talent emerging from Mindanao’s young chess players.
