2 Pinoy Chess Players from Davao City Join World Youth Chess Championships

[pioneer]

Two young chess players from Davao City will play for the Philippines when the 2008 World Youth Chess Championships unfolds on October 20 to 31 in Vietnam.

Twelve-year-old, sixth-grader champion John Ray Batucan from Don Juan dela Cruz Elementary School in Toril had been training the past four months for the tournament.

With his fellow Davao player Rowelyn Joy Acedo of Jose Maria College, Batucan will play the 11-round Swiss System format chessfest.

They leave for Manila on Friday night for departure with the Team Philippines on Sunday.

Batucan, a son of taxi driver Neptali Batucan, Jr., captured two gold medals in boys' 12-under individual and team standard events of the 9th Asean Age-Group Chess Championships in Danang, Vietnam last June.

The young ace, who will be coached by Filipino International Master (IM) Ildefonso Datu in Vietnam, said he and 10 other Filipinos will be up against the best and finest young chess players in the world, including those from powerhouse Russia.

"The Asean tournament is far different from the World Youth. It will be a very challenging experience for me. But I'll give my best all the same," the youthful champion said.

His World Youth Chess stint is backed up by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero "Butch" Pichay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and Engr. Enrico Vanta of Chadric Builders. - PNA

[Lorenzo]

The flower of Filipino youth shall rock the world and competitors.

God bless our intelligent youth!

[insurectus]

Wow basin diay magkadaghan na parehas ni Wesley So

[balong]

na unsa naman tawon ka mike ligalig. na tiguwang na man