by Romeo Braceros Jr.
 

A 17-year-old teenager from Dasmarinas, Cavite, won the coveted 2022 Philippine National Juniors Chess Championship Grand Finals held in Malolos, Bulacan, on October 24-27, 2022.

International Master Michael Concio, Jr. won the coveted title and the bragging right as the top junior chess player in the country after scoring 7.5 points after nine rounds.

Concio won a trophy and cash prize as prizes for his feat.

Last May 29, 2022, Concio won the  Hanoi IM Chess Tournament in Vietnam.

Concio split the point after 80 moves of a Caro-Kann Defense to conclude the nine-round competition unblemished with seven points on five wins and four draws.

His rating increased from 2211 to 2380 following the achievement, incorporating some points he had already accrued in other FIDE-sanctioned competitions before the tournament, which was held in Hanoi after the 31st Southeast Asian Games.