By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Batang Pinoy medalist Kyle Jhazmin Clarito dominated the elementary girls category of the division qualifier for the Palarong Pambansa chess competition on Thursday at the Pasig City Elementary School.
The Grade 6 learner at Sacred Heart Academy of Pasig had a perfect score of six points in the double-round tournament, prevailing over Amber Mariana Maravilla of Saint Paul College-Pasig (4.0 points) and Micah Ella Andrea Daes of San Lorenzo Ruiz Elementary School (2.0 points).
Clarito and Maravilla advanced to the National Capital Region Palaro which will take place on March 17 to 21 in Makati City.
“I will do my best. The competition in NCR Palaro is very tough,” said the 12-year-old Clarito in an interview on Friday.
Clarito bagged a silver (rapid) and a bronze (blitz) medals at the 2024 Batang Pinoy National Finals in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. In preparation for the NCR Palaro, she will join the 5th AQ Prime Standard Open on Feb. 15 to 16 at the Robinsons Metro East.
In the boys category, Sebastian Christoff Tan scored five points to secure the gold medal. Nathan Keith Alcantara (3.0 points) and Kurt Evan Caliva (2.5 points) settled for the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Meanwhile, Frank Stephanie Engles won the high school girls gold medal. Eumi Funtera took the silver while Christelle Juliene Abeleda got the bronze.
In the boys category, Andrew James Toledo captured the gold medal, Gabriel Ryan Paradero won the silver and John Carlo Hermosa pocketed the bronze.
The top two finishers in each category earned slots in the NCR Palaro. (PNA)
