Philippine youth chess team standout Al-Basher "Basty" Buto won the 3rd Jessie Villasin Cup online chess tournament held via Lichess.org on Friday, March 19, 2021.
The 11-year-old wunderkind from Faith Christian School in Cainta, Rizal put on a strong start and a stronger finish to run away with the kiddy crown with 6 points in the seven-round rapid tilt (five minutes plus five seconds increment time control).
“I didn’t look to defend my title, just to play my best,” said Buto, who played for the national team in the 2020 FIDE Online World Cadets and Youth Rapid Chess Championships.
“I knew that this was a tough tournament with all the players. I just tried to play my best and now I am really happy,” added the grade 5 pupil Buto, who hails from Marawi City.
Christian Tolosa of Imus, Cavite and Arnel Mahawan Jr. of Talacsan, San Rafael, Bulacan finished second and 3rd with 5 points apiece.
Sharing fourth to seventh places were inaugural winner Ivan Travis Cu of San Juan City, Oshrie Jhames “OJ” Reyes of Dila-Dila, Santa Rita, Pampanga, Gabriel Ryan Paradero of Pasig City and Yosef Immanuel Morada of Tuguegarao City who got 4.5 points each.
Rounding up to the top 10 who totes 4 points each were Quarl Maverick Vera Cruz of Balingoan, Misamis Oriental, Aldrich Milan Dela Rosa of Aklan and Vhea Ashley Silvano of Canlaon city,Negros oriental.
According to Mercer Island, Washington, USA based Jessie Villasin, the event aimed to develop good thinkers through the understanding of chess strategies and tactics, improving the logical abilities and rational thinking and reasoning of the participants, and instilling a sense of self-confidence, self-worth and camaraderie.-Marlon Bernardino-
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