MISSION accomplished for the Philippine Youth chess team.

The Filipinos finished a fighting second overall in the recent 21st ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships held June 17-27 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Led by IMs Daniel Quizon and Michael Concio, Jr., the Filipinos brought home a total of 16 gold, 37 silver and eight bronze medals to finish behind only Vietnam, which took .92 golds, 36 silvers and 50 bronzes.

The 50-strong Filipino delegation sent by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) did it against the Vietnamese team composed of 165 players.

Quizon and Concio emerged as the winningest Filipino players in the 10-day competition which attracted 315 players from 16 countries including those outside the region like Japan, China, New

Zealand, South Korea, India and Russia, whiich played under the FIDE banner.

Quizon, the 18-year-old pride of Dasmariñas City, Cavite, captured the gold medal in 20-under division in both the individual standard event and ndividual blitz category as well as U20 team standard event.

Quizon also pocketed the silver medals in the individual and team rapid event.

Equally impressive was Concio,17, who bagged the gold medal in U20 blitz Individual and standard team event, to go with the silver medal in team rapid event and bronze medal in the individual class.

Sharing the limelight were FM Christian Gian Karlo Arca, 13, who won the gold medal in U18 individual rapid event, silver medal in team standard, silver medal in team blitz event; and Quezon

City’s pride, 12-year-old Mar Viel Carredo, who secured the individual gold medal in U12, silver medal in team rapid event as well as silver in standard and blitz team events.

Millery Gen Subia, a 10-year-old find from Cabanatuan City, also did well by winning the individual gold medal in U10 girls and silver medal in team standard event while grabbing the silver medal in individual, bronze medal in blitz team event and silver medal in team rapid category.

Also making the country proud were Ashley Nicole Paquinol of Cagayan De Oro City (gold medal in U12 individual and three silver medals in blitz, rapid and standard events); Ruelle Canino, a grade 9 student of Far Eastern University-Diliman (gold medal in U16 girls in individual and silver medals in team standard, individual and team rapid and, individual bronze medal in blitz).

In the Senior Division, NM Edmundo Gatus of Manila captured two gold medals and silver medal and Raul Damuy of Pasig City bagged two gold medals and additional two gold medals for the team event.

NCFP Chairman/ President Prospero “Butch” Pichay, lauded the Philippine youth team for their successful campaign in Thailand.

“Our young Filipino players proved once more their talents. Despite the adversities and challenges, they brought honor and pride to our country,” said Pichay, also the current Secretary-General of dominant political party Lakas-CMD.

“We’re happy with the support given by the Philippine Sports Commission, headed by Chairman Richard E. Bachmann and Commissioner Edward L. Hayco,” added the former lawmaker from Surigao.