9-year-old Pinoy prevails at two International Chess tourneys

Filipino whiz kid Jayson Bacobo Tiburcio (photo from Mary Jane "MaJane" Bacobo Tiburcio)
Filipino whiz kid Jayson Bacobo Tiburcio (photo from Mary Jane “MaJane” Bacobo Tiburcio)

Filipino whiz kid Jayson Bacobo Tiburcio, a primary 4 pupil at Fernvale Primary School in Singapore, recently won in two International Chess Competitions.

The nine-years-old, who hails from Marikina City, won the Silver Medal at the 12th Nanyang Chess Challenge (Rapid format) Upper Primary Division last Saturday held at the Nanyang Primary School in Singapore and was also the only recipient of the Special Award on Fairplay in the Upper Primary Boy’s Category.

The award is given to the player who demonstrates good behavior and sportsmanship in the entire tournament according to his mother Mary Jane “MaJane” Bacobo Tiburcio.

In addition to his 2nd place finish, Jayson also got 6.5 points out of 7 games of play to emerge as the champion in the July edition of Asean Chess Academy (ACA) Rapid Chess Tournament held at the Bukit Timah Shopping Centre in Singapore last Sunday.

“His father, Jaime “Bong” Tiburcio, was more proud on this (latest) award,” said very supportive mother Mary Jane “MaJane” Bacobo Tiburcio.

“Thanks to all the coaches, IM Rico Yap Mascarinas, AGM and FM elect Robert Suelo Jr., IA Lincoln Yap, Christopher Diaz and IA Joey Moseros of Intchess Asia, his sparring partners, IM elect Edgar Reggie Olay, Filipino and United States chess master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr. and Jimson Valenzuela Bitoon and Mr Leong Ignatius who made this possible,” added the proud mother.

Following his successful conquest of the recent event in Singapore, winning a silver and a gold medal last weekend, Jayson is setting his sights in competing in the 30th National Rapid Chess Championships 2018 – Challengers on August 11 and 12, 2018 and the 15th Malaysia International Chess Festival to be held on August 17 to 27, 2018 at the Cititel Midvalley Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.