Romeo Braceros Jr.
 
Photo: Marlon Bernardino
 
During the Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship 2022 (U14 class), which finished on Saturday, November 12, at the Asia Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, Christian Gian Karlo Arca of Panabo City, Davao del Norte, set an Asian record in chess.
 
Arca, a Grade 8 student at Dasmarinas Integrated High School, played under the direction of Representative Pidi Barzaga, Mayor Jenny Barzaga, National Coach Fide Master Roel Abelgas, and Class Advisor Mrs. Melinda Calumaya.
 
Arca finished with 7.5 points in nine games of the standard time control format and won the Gold Individual Award in the Under-14 division and the Fide Master (FM) title outright.
 
Arca, who is now playing for Dasmarinas City, Cavite, earned the most points and led the Philippine Under-14 team to a Gold Team Award in both the Rapid and Standard Events.
 
Arca won the Bronze Individual Rapid Award as well. She is a National Master (NM) and an online Arena Grandmaster (AGM).
 
Ivan Travis Cu, John Cyrus Borce, and Arca also received a Silver Team Blitz award.
 
Arca, the U14 player with the most honors, also received two trophies for his efforts.
 
Arca's chess campaign in Thailand will be feasible thanks to the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, the Philippine Sports Commission, Governor Edwin Jubahib of Davao del Norte, Representative Alan Dujali, Mayor Jenny Barzaga, and Representative Pidi Barzaga.