Young player from Antique to compete in PH amateur chess tournament

Hans Lee Villorente, a young chess player from Antique, is set to compete in the final leg of the 2023 NCFP Philippine National Amateur Chess Championships to be held on September 9 and 10 via Tornelo and Zoom platforms.

Hans Lee Villorente (right) and his father Jerome during a training session. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The 13-year-old Villorente, a grade 8 student of Regional Science High School for Region 6 in Kalibo, will engage in a battle of tactics and strategy against the country's top chess campaigners.

The 9-rounds Swiss system tournament has a time control of 10 minutes with 5 seconds increment and sponsored by NCFP Legal Counsel Atty. Nikki De Vega.

Villorente started learning the rudiments of chess at age four from his father Jerome and has played in numerous chess tournaments, including the 2022 Batang Pinoy Games where he won the silver medal in the standard chess event.

His latest tournament was the 2nd AQ Prime FIDE Standard Chess Open Tournament held on August 19-21 at the Robinsons Metro East in Pasig City where he finished with 3.5 points in seven outings.

Villorente scored victories over Nathan Jon Anarna in the first round, Paul Matthew Llanillo in the fourth round and Sean Justine Alano in the seventh and last round. He drew with Daren dela Cruz in the 3rd round. He lost to Natasja Jasmine Balabbo in the second round, Yuri Lei Paraguya in the fifth round and Chessica Fiona Sadey in the sixth round. Villorente said he has learned a lot in the 2nd AQ Prime FIDE Standard Chess Open Tournament and will apply his learning in his next tournament.

The young woodpusher also thanked his parents for their endless support to his chess journey.