Under the watchful eye of Representative Pidi Barzaga, Mayor Jenny Barzaga, National Coach Fide Master Roel Abelgas, and Class Advisor Mrs. Melinda Calumaya, the 13-year-old Arca of Dasmarinas Integrated High School used the Caro-Kann Defense with impunity and struck with an unstoppable queenside passed pawn to pull off the astounding 57-move victory.
The Moldovan team's reserve and European Under-15 silver medalist Ceres, age 18, was left with two pawns behind, an exposed king and an Arca b-file pawn about to be promoted to a queen after the match.
As a result, the reigning winner of the Bangkok East Asia Youth U14 opens entered a 32-player tie for first place with Filipino Grandmasters John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo, and Joey Antonio.
At the time of publication, Arca was squaring off against seasoned IM Cris Ramayrat in the second round, hoping for a fitting response to his monumental victory.
Gomez defeated Ferdinand Leysa, Laylo defeated student Mark Jay Bacojo in a duel, and Antonio defeated Gerard Yulo in this nine-round tournament, which had the largest cash prize in decades—P1.14 million—for the victor, thanks to the boxing legend and former senator Manny Pacquiao.
FM David Elorta, IM Ronald Bancod, IM Eric Labog, Jr., IM Rolando Nolte, FM Jeth Romy Morado, IM Kim Steven Yap, IM Ricky de Guzman, and IM Chito Garma were other Filipinos who made it through the first round.
GMs Hoivhannes Gabuzyan of Armenia, Lucas Van Foreest of the Netherlands, Vitaly Sivuk of Sweden, and Pier Luigi Basso of Italy breezed through the first-round competition. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)
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