MANILA, Philippines, October 16 ------ World Cup campaigner International Master Michael Concio and new sensation FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca won their first two games and shared top spot with six others in the 2024 Asian Juniors and Girls Championships at the Knights Templar Hotel in Tagaytay City.
The 19-year-old Concio, who represented the country in the 2021 World Chess Cup, opened his campaign with a win over No. 24 seed Yu Chen Yu of Taipei followed by a victory over No. 15 AFM Sureka Akshat of India. Arca, the 2023 FIDE World Youth Chess Championship blitz winner, bested compatriot Almwayne Magpusao and No. 3 seed IM S. Ashwath of India to share the lead with reigning champion and top seed GM Aleksey Grebnev of Russia, who subdued Filipino Phil Martin Casiguran and 10th-ranked Cristiano Manish of India.
Also with 2.0 points were No. 2 Indian IM Krishna Rohith, who bested Dinujaya Kodithuwakku of Sri Lanka and No. 9 countryman FM Arjun Adireddy; fourth-seed Russian IM Artem Uskov, who tamed Japanese Michael Toma Matsunaga and No. 11 Kazakh Imangali Akhilbay; Indian No. 6 CM Yash Bradia, who downed Indonesian Khalid Shafwan Azzamy and Filipino AFM Andrei Ainsley Dolorosa; and No. 7 Mongolian IM Munkhdalai Amilal, who tamed Filipinos John Curt Valencia and No. 16 DavinSean Romualdez.
Pacing the girls division with 2.0 points are second seed Russian WIM Anna Shukhman, Indian No. 6 Halder Sneha, No. 8 Indian WFM V. Rindhiya and No. 10 Vietnamnese Luong Hoang Tu Lin. Shukhman, winner of the girls rapid chess competition held Sunday, trounced Malaysian ACM Afif Mardhiah Mohd and Indian Shubhi.
The highest-placed Filipino bets with 1.0-point each are Apple Rubin and Elle Castronuevo. Rubin rebounded from a loss to Popandopolu with a victory over Alexis Rian Justo of Guam. Castronuevo, on the other hand, whipped Carmina Jasmine Ramas of Guam to compensate for her loss to Mukherjee Bristy of India in the opening round. The tournament is being held under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and is supported by the Tagaytay City government under Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.Tournament director is Mike Lapitan, while chief arbiter is Patrick Lee.
Source: rappler.com
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