Quinto, 3 other King’s Gambit teammates dominate chess tournament

Stephen Quinto towed three other King's Gambit Online Chess School teammates on top of the leaderboard in the “Alay kay VG Toto Tan II” 3rd Rizal Leg Youth 16-Under FIDE Rated Standard Chess Tournament

From left are Gabriel Ryan Paradero, champion Stephen Quinto (champion), Christian Mendoza and Woman National Master Tonelle Racasa. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

over the weekend at the Robinsons Metro East in Pasig City.

Quinto finished the six-round tournament with 5.5 points, tied with fellow King's Gambit player Gabriel Ryan Paradeo. Quinto, however, edged Paradero in the tie-break to claim the under-16 title.

Fellow King's Gambiteers Christian Mendoza and Woman National Master Tonelle Racasa scored 5.0 points each and placed third and fourth, respectively.

Racasa was also awarded as the top female finisher in the tournament organized by Rudy Ibanez.

Over in Angeles City, King's Gambit players Tiv Omangay and John Kristoff Bautista respectively ruled under-17 and under-9 categories in the Batang Pinoy qualifiers.

In the Los Banos, Laguna leg of the Batang Pinoy qualifiers, Zed Silva clinched second place in the under-17.

Michael Jan Inigo, meanwhile, captured the crown in the 15-and-above chess tournament in Negros Occidental even as 12-year-old Lord Yofiel ended up tied for first place in the under-21 and under 17 categories in Cebu.

“I'm so happy the winning streak of the team continues,” said coach Richard Villaseran, founder of King's Gambit Online Chess School.

“Talent abounds in our program and we're all about improving and developing. We will not stop training until we reach our bigger goals.”

Villaseran said the school aims to produce age-group champions in the national and ASEAN levels. He said some of his players are bound to earn the chess titles of National Master, International Master and Woman International Master in the next two years.

Also training under Villaseran's wings are National Masters Al-Basher Buto, Tenshi Biete, Karlycris Clarito and John Cyrus Borce, Woman National Master Jersey Marticio, Jeremy Maeticio, Pat Ferdolf Macabulos and Vincent Ryu Dimayuga, among others.