By: Romeo Braceros Jr.

The 6th Eastern Asia (ASEAN) Youth Chess Championship was held on Friday, November 5, at Asia Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, and was won by the young Elle Castronuevo from Imus City, Cavite.

She joined the 8-under girls' class and has participated in 7 rounds of the quick chess competition. 

Eight-year-old Castronuevo, a third-grade student at Imus Pilot Elementary School, defeated every opponent she faced and took the championship by winning 7 of 7.

She stood out above the rest and was regarded as the finest player for the Philippines team.

In the 10-under girls' division, Mary Janelle Tan and Gllasea Ann Hilario took home silver and bronze.

Under the leadership of Rep. Elpidio "Pidi" Frani Barzaga Jr. and national coach Fide Master Roel Abelgas, Daren dela Cruz of Dasmarinas City, Cavite, also scored a flawless 7 points in the combined 12 and 14-under girls' division.

Ryien Bahita of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, who completed the Philippine dominance, won the bronze medal with a higher tie-breaking score in the group of four-pointers. 

Ruelle Canino, one of the top players from Far Eastern University-Diliman, won the silver medal with six points.

In the combined 16 and 18- girls' division, Lexie Grace Hernandez and April Joy Claros, both from Angeles City, Pampanga, won silver and bronze.

Michael Jan Stephen Rosalem Iigo of the Philippines won the bronze medal in the boys' event. In his U16 boy's competition, he finished with five wins and two losses. The Negros Oriental city of Dumaguete/Bayawan is proud of Iigo.

Caleb Royce Garcia (U8, silver), John Cyrus Borce (U14, silver), Christian Gian Karlo Arca (U14, bronze), and Janmyl Dilan Tisado are more Filipino medalists (U18, silver).

According to National Master/National Arbiter Rodolfo "Rudy" Toledo, the first day's activity is a 7-round Rapid Blitz competition lasting 15 minutes + 5 seconds every round. A conventional 30-minute chess competition will occur from the second through the last days.

Close to 200 players in the 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18-year-old boy and female categories from 12 East Asian countries participate in the chess competition.

The Philippine Sports Commission and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines supported Team Philippines as it won three gold, seven silver, and seven bronze medals in the Rapid Chess Tournament on the first day of the East Asian Youth Chess Championship, according to Toledo.

Grandmaster Jayson O. Gonzales led the Philippine delegation. He also serves as CEO of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, whose chairman/president is Prospero "Butch" Arreza Pichay Jr.