Panabo City Council honors chess wizard Arca

Romeo Braceros Jr.

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posted on 3 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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DAVAO CITY--The City Council of Panabo City, Davao del Norte, recently honored its own National Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca, for bringing honor to the city in the Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship 2022 (U14 class) at the Asia Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand on November 12.

City Vice-Mayor, Gregorio "Banjong" Dujali III, through a resolution filed by City Councilors Danica Carisma and Ronald Ang gives recognition to the chess achievement of Arca, 13.

Arca and his police officer father personally attended the event.

The recognition came after Arca placed second in the challenging first Lumbia-Mindanao Chess Championship in Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City, on November 19.

Arca scored 7.5 points after nine rounds to place as runner-up in the tournament, which was participated by some of the top chess players in the Philippines.

The young Fide Master also helped his team, Lumbia, place second in the Tatluhan team championship.

For the individual competition, Arca won P10,000 plus trophies and a medal.

Arca will get a portion of the P30,000 prize money for the team competition, a trophy, and a medal.

In the Thailand tournament, Arca set an Asian record in chess.

Arca, a Grade 8 student at Dasmarinas Integrated High School, played under the direction of Representative Pidi Barzaga, Mayor Jenny Barzaga, National Coach Fide Master Roel Abelgas, and Class Advisor Melinda Calumaya.

Arca finished with 7.5 points in nine games of the standard time control format and won the Gold Individual Award in the Under-14 division and the Fide Master (FM) title outright.

Arca, now playing for Dasmarinas City, Cavite, earned the most points and led the Philippine Under-14 team to a Gold Team Award in both the Rapid and Standard Events.

Arca won the Bronze Individual Rapid Award as well. She is a National Master (NM) and an online Arena Grandmaster (AGM).

Ivan Travis Cu, John Cyrus Borce, and Arca also received a Silver Team Blitz award.

Arca, the U14 player with the most honors, also received two trophies for his efforts.

Arca's chess campaign in Thailand will be feasible, thanks to the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, the Philippine Sports Commission, Governor Edwin Jubahib of Davao del Norte, Representative Alan Dujali, Mayor Jenny Barzaga, and Representative Pidi Barzaga. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)