“PAU” BERSAMINA IS THE YOUNGEST EVER RP JUNIOR CHAMPION; THE NEXT BIG THING IN RP CHESS—NCFP PICHAY

Final Standings/ Rankings:

(Boys, 80 player’s field)

7 points—Paulo Bersamina, Joey Albert Florendo

6.5 points—Richilieu Salcedo, Nelson Mariano III, Patrick Erle Florendo,Michael Joseph Pagaran,Jay Bulicatin, Mc Dominique Lagula

6 points—Jerwell Andoy, Yves Christian Fiel, Franz Robert Grafil, John Ray Batucan, Neptali Batucan III

(Girls,29 player’s field)

8 points—WNM Aices Salvador

7.5 points—WNM Jedara Docena

7 points—WNM Jan Jodilyn Fronda

6 points—WNM Christy Lamiel Bernales

5.5 points—Sittie Halia Sabo,Marie Antoinette San Diego, Judith Pineda, Lovelyn Medina

PAULO ‘PAU’ SALES BERSAMINA, who is currently the RP 12 and under champion, scored another milestone by winning the 2010 National Juniors for Boys and Girls Chess Championship at the Gaisano Grand Citimall in Davao City on Monday.

The Pasay City whiz kid, who celebrated his 12th birthday last February 1, also the prodigy of Meralco Chess Club, finished with 7 points earned him the distinction being the youngest-ever RP Junior champion at the age of 12, the same output of UST bet Joey Albert Florendo of Zamboanga City, but won the title with a better tie break to grab the championships’ trophy supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president/ chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. in close cooperation with NCFP region XI director James Infiesto.

” My hard work has paid off,” said the former La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) top gunner Bersamina, fondly called “Pau” in the local circuit, incoming freshman of the Far Eastern University (FEU) under the wings of two-time olympian GM Jayson Gonzales.

Both, Bersamina and Florendo obtained an outright national master titles, thus Bersamina is now the youngest NCFP national master according to International Arbiter/ NM Erwin L. Carag.

Bersamina settled a truce with another UST mainstay Patrick Erle Florendo of Zamboanga City in the ninth and final round using the disadvantageous black pieces while Joey Albert Florendo stopped the winning run of Michael Joseph Pagaran of Tagbilaran using the advantgeous white pieces.

RTU Mandaluyong City pride Richilieu Salcedo beat Jerwell Andoy of Davao City to lead the huge group of 6.5 pointers that includes Nelson Mariano III, Patrick Erle Florendo,Pagaran,Jay Bulicatin and Mc Dominique Lagula in this event which attracted 80 woodpushers.

“He’d probably attain grandmaster status at the age of 15,” National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president/ chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. told this writer in a telephone interview Monday night.

Youngest NM at the age of 11 is IM Oliver Barbosa back then the defunct-PCF leadership under the baton of the late lawyer Arturo Borjal.

” Magaling yan si Bersamina (Paulo), consistent,”said Wesley’s spokesman and long-time manager Reginald Tee.

Super GM Wesley So won RP Junior at the age of 13 in May 6 to 9, 2007 according to chess columnist Ignacio Dee was held at the Marketplace in Mandaluyong City enroute the coveted national master (NM) title.

At the age of 10, Wesley already finalist in the National Open and also a grand champion of the Shell National Youth Active Chess added Carag.

When Wesley 12 years old he already qualified for the Philippine Team in Turin, World Chess Olympiad said Tee.

In the distaff side of RP Junior, WNM Aices Salvador of Manila settled for a truce with Marie Antoinette San Diego of Cavite to went home the championships’ trophy with 8 points.

2006 Doha Asian Games representative WNM Jedara Docena of Tagbilaran bested Mary israel Palero of Davao City to finished with 7.5 points for solo second place.

WNM Jan Jodilyn Fronda of Manila, meantime defeated Sittie Halia Sabo of Cagayan de Oro City to scored 7 points, good enough for solo third placer, full point ahead over fourth placer WNM Christy Lamiel Bernales of Quezon City with 6 points, who brought downed Chairmaine Casimina of Batangas City in this 29 player’s field.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO