INTERNATIONAL Master (IM) Michael Concio, Jr. retained the title and Ma. Elayza Villa came out of nowhere to crown herself girls champion in the National Juniors and Kiddies Chess Championships that came to a close Tuesday in Alicia, Isabela.
Concio, a World Cup veteran, needed to draw his ninth and final-round match with Christian Olaybal and watched conqueror Jan Clifford Labog fall to Chester Neil Reyes to snare the juniors title with 7.5 points.
Reyes wound up second with 7.0 points while Labog edged Oscar Joseph Cantela via tiebreak to settle for third place with 6.5 points apiece in the event backed by Alicia Mayor Jose Alejandro.
Villa needed to hurdle Shiela Mer Donoga to finish tied for first with Ruelle Canino—winner over Rinoa Mariel Sadey—on 7.5 points before claiming the title with a higher tiebreak score. Deandra Castronuevo topped the girls event and Phil Martin Casiguran won the boys’ crown in the kiddies contest.