Darlene Dannog and Wycliffe Aromin topped the inaugural University of the Cordilleras Jaguars online chess tournament among junior and senior high school students on weekend.
Dannog of Apayao Science High School led the girls’ category while Aromin of Baguio City National High School topped the boys’ category of the 14-round tournament played on Lichess.
It was a tight competition in the girls’ side as Dannog tied with second placer Krizza Mae Biggayan of University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao, both with 13 total points.
But the deciding factor came from the crucial total tiebreak scores with Dannog scoring 51 against Biggayan’s 50.
Ezra Ruth Daligdig of Santor National High School-Kalinga placed third.
Aromin, meanwhile, faced Baguio Science High School’s Joshua Estangki and Mark Castillo of Flora National High School-Apayao on the first day when they each scored 5.5 while silver medalist Yoong Nam Ha of Benguet National High School scored five points.
But by the second day, Aromin overtook them with 6.5 points for a total of 12 points. Estangki settled for third place as Yoong Nam Ha scored higher in the total tiebreak, while Castillo placed fourth.
Other awardees in the girls’ category were Airuh Zelle Pangda of UC in fourth place, Angelika Catama from BCNHS in fifth, Eleann Loise Talawa of King’s College of the Philippines-La Trinidad in sixth, Alphiea Dasalla of UC in seventh, followed by Maryjoy Cabuag of Santa Maria NHS-Ilocos Sur, Jasmine Lorenzo of Flora NHS, and Blessed Joy Orena of UC.
Also awarded in the boys category from fifth to 10th place were Cliff Daniel Api-lado of Benguet State University-SLS, Abe Omos-ao of San Jose High School-La Trinidad, Ethan Gyzer Saong of UBSHS, Shadrach Vincent dela Cruz of Gaddani NHS-Abra, Xyrus Gil Arino of the University of Baguio, and Eduardo Tubale, Jr. of Santor NHS-Kalinga.
The top 10 awardees in each category received a certificate of achievement and cash incentives.
UC Athletic Director Danilo Cong-o said the event will have a second round and will be opened to players from regions 1, 2, and 3.
Cong-o said the event is a means of helping the athletes to be productive and have an outlet for their sport as local and national sporting games are still suspended due to the pandemic. – Ofelia C. Empian
