Stunning Beautiful Lira Placer Joins Mandaluyong Youth Chess Tournament

PHILIPPINE chess goddess. Lira Mocon Placer, is undeniably the epitome of beauty and brain, will lead the cast of hopefuls in the GMG Youth FIDE-rated Rapid Chess Tournament on May 20 at the Open Kitchen Foodhall in Rockewell Business Center. The chess muse will be up against top rated 15-and-under chess players in Metro Manila and neighboring cities and provinces. (Contributed Photo)

 

 

By Marlon Bernardino

 

 

MANILA – Philippine youthful chess stunner Lira Mocoy Placer will showcase her talent in the GMG Youth (15 years old and below) FIDE Rapid Chess Tournament on May 20, Saturday, at 9AM at the 2nd floor Open Kitchen Foodhall, Rockwell Business Center in Mandaluyong City.

 

“I hope to do well in this prestigious event (GMG Youth FIDE Rapid Chess Tournament),” said Placer, a Grade 10 student at Pampanga High school, who is under the tutelage of coach Edward Serrano.

 

Placer is fresh from a silver medal finish in the 2023 Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) Meet Secondary Girls Chess Tournament held in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija last April 24-28, which was won by Heart Misola Padilla, a Grade 11 student of Zambales National High School. Placer and Padilla will banner Region 3 in the Palarong Pambansa National Finals on July 29-August 5 in Marikina City.

 

Expected to give Placer a run for her money are NMs Christian Gian Karlo Arca and Oshrie Jhames Reyes, WNM Antonella Berthe Racasa, WNM Jersey Marticio, Arena Candidate Master Ronell Jose Co, Christian Mendoza, Stephen Zane Quinto, Allan Gabriel Hillario, Jeanne Marie Arcinue, Jude Angelo Dableo, Gabriel Ryan Paradero, James Henry Calacday, Sumer Justine and Ezra May Oncita, Marco Viniel and Delia Marie Penaverde, Pollux Caleb Reyes, Ae-Lee Carline Martisano, Chesca Mae Perang, Adrian Alarcon, Tabitha Cara Pascual, Windale Tan, Rafiel Irvin Lacorte, Frank Stephanie Engles,Kyler Marin Camonias, Saimon Jess Contreras, Ken Samuel Dela Cruz , Mike Emmanuel Mendoza and Prince Jhamie Reyes.

 

Thailand-based NM Gerald Ferriol, a former member of the UST Men’s Chess team in college said that the tournament “is to help our young chess players here in Metro Manila in particular, and in the Philippines in general. We want them to become globally competitive not just in this sport but also in their daily lives. This event will surely promote Mandaluyong City.”

THAILAND-base Filipino chess coach Gerald Ferriol is throwing his full support on this upcoming tournament to help youthful chess players in the country became globally competitive. (Contributed Photo)

 

The competition is sponsored by Ferriol with the Balinas Family, China Aurelio and Mimi Casas. This one-day event, which aims to boost the sport grassroots development program, is a 7-Round Swiss System format with 10 minutes plus five minutes increment time control.

 

The organizers are expecting around 100 wood pushers from the Metropolis and nearby provinces. The tournament offers rating by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by chairman/president Rep. Prospero “Butch” Arreza Pichay Jr.

 

The champion will be P5,000 richer with the second, third, fourth and fifth placers pockets P3,000, P2,000, P1,500 and P1,000 each. Sixth to 10th placers will get P500 each, while the top 14 years old and below (boys and Girls), top 12 years old and below (boys and Girls), top 10 years old and below (boys and Girls), and top 8 years old and below (boys and Girls), will earn P500 each.

 

The registration fee is P500. First 100 chess players participants paid will receive worth P100 food voucher. Interested party may send their registration fee at Jolina Icao’s GCash account at 09613396015 or 09684367842.