Apple Rubin, Reduard Contaoi take top 2 spots in Cebu Chess Hub’s Kiddies event

Apple Rubin defeated Jelleone Alsola in the final round to finish with 6.0 points and rule the Cebu Chess Hub 12-Under Kiddies Chess Tournament at the SM Seaside last July 23 and 24.

The tournament, organized by Cebu Chess Hub and sponsored by Jinky Alsola, RD Pawnshop-Jewelry and SM Seaside, attracted 64 players, with one as young as five years old. Before beating Alsola in Round 7, Rubin beat Khlarens Cacanog in Round 6, Reduard Contaoi in Round 4, Drake Basca in Round 3, Maica Cadenas in Round 2 and Christ Enriquez in Round 1. Nina dela Torre beat Rubin in Round 5.

Contaoi also finished with 6.0 points but settled for second, while Basaca got third place. Contai defeated Darren Duhig, Khlian Carvellida, Ethan Rightoff, Daren Corro, Nino Romeo and Lance Gimena but lost to Rubin in Round 4. On the other hand, Basaca defeated Lucas Garcia, Daren Corro, Lois Lozada, Dona Rubin, Danica Torreifiel and Nina Dela Torre but also lost to Rubin in Round 3.

Rubin got P3,000 and a trophy, while Contai got P2,000 and a trophy. Basaca also earned P1,000 and a trophy. 

Loise Antonette Lozada finished at fourth place and got P700, while Chayren MItch Yase earned P500 for her fifth-place finish.  The rest of the top 10 players–Aaron Ypon, Ethan Carbonilla, Danica Torrrefiel, Roel Lanas and Bernard Paraiso–got P300 each.

Lance David Gimena finished at fourth place and got P700, while Daren Corro earned P500 for a fifth place finish. The rest of the top 10 players–Nina Dela Torre, Jelleon Alsola, Khlarens Cacanog, Ezekil Ypon and Ethan Carbonilla got P300 each.

Theon Cade Miranda also got a special award for being the youngest participant at five years old. He finished 52nd out of 64 players after earning two wins over Azunzion Mascarinas in Round 1 and Zed Raphael Villalon in Round 6.

Cebu Chess Hub, led by Rene Bonsubre, Raffy Osumo and Fide chess instructor and coach Mark Mangubat, the son of NM Mario Mangubat who once beat GM Eugene Torre in the 70s’ is planning to hold an all-women tournament next.

“One of our goals is to discover, train and give Cebu another titled chess player (IM or GM). It has been 12 long years since Cebu produced a titled player,” said Osumo