Unknown Heart Padilla rules National Juniors Girls chessfest
Unknown Heart Padilla rules National Juniors Girls chessfest
UNHERALDED Heart Padilla capped her fairy tale run by ruling the National Juniors Girls Chess Championship ahead of the big guns at the GMall in Cebu over the weekend.
Ms. Padilla, a 19-year-old native of Iba, Zambales, scored 7.5 points in nine rounds including a final-round victory over LJ Getubig of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental to rule the weeklong event and claim a slot to the Asian Juniors Championships set July 18 to 27 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
It was a stunning effort for Ms. Padilla, who finished ahead of pre-tournament favorites Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian, a former winner here, and Woman FIDE Master Ruelle Canino, the reigning national women’s titlist.
Ms. Sebastian wound up second with seven points while Ms. Canino third with seven in this event organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Alekhin Nouri, for his part, reigned supreme in the open section to claim his second national juniors crown after winning it all four years ago.
The 19-year-old Mr. Nouri downed Oscar Joseph Cantela in the ninth round, finished tied for first with fellow FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo and Jerish John Velarde with 7.5 points apiece before emerging with the best tiebreak score over the latter two to snatch the gold.
Mr. Bacojo ended up second while Mr. Velarde third.
Meanwhile, 13-year-old Al Basher Buto likewise pulled off a shocker after winning the Under-20 open blitz section by scoring eight points out of nine and finishing ahead of older, fancied rivals. — Joey Villar
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