Canino takes share of lead in National Age Group Chess Championships opener

March 14, 2025 | 3:37pm

MANILA, Philippines — The road to becoming a champion in the male-dominated Open section for 16-year-old lass Ruelle Canino has begun after racing to three straight points at the start of the National Age Group Chess Championships at the FPJ Arena in San Jose, Batangas Friday.

Canino, a vital cog in the national women’s that took the Group B gold medal in the Budapest Olympiad last year, overpowered Yuri Paraguya in claiming her third straight point and a share of the premier under-18 lead with Phil Martin Casiguran.

Casiguran won over Khent Canas to likewise stay unscathed in this eight-round event bankrolled by CoinEx.

Canino is also eyeing to rule the division and seize the right to represent the country in the Asian Schools Chess Championships set Dec. 1 to 11 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The winner in each age category will automatically qualify to the Bangkok tilt, according to NCFP chief executive officer Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales.

The Cagayan de Oro city-based lady chesser and Casiguran were half a point of a five-player chase pack that included top seed FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca, who was dragged down by a draw with Cyrus Borce.

April Joy Claros bested Sara Dalagan to lead the way in the girls ‘ U18 alongside Jersey Marticio and Kate Nicole Ordizo with perfect three points.

Grandmaster Eugene Torre, host Mayor Ben Patron and Rep. Mark Lester Patron, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna and CoinEx Filipino country manager Del Omasas along with Gonzales ushered in the tournament in simple rites.