US- and Asia- bound Checkmate Chess Team formed

Seeded 11-year old Malcolm Kwok will banner the Milo Checkmate team's campaign in the United States and Asia this coming May and June.

Joining Kwok are Roy Aldous Coronel, Lev Abug, Adrian Co, Vincent Joseph Fuerte, Marie Antoinette San Diego, Steven Teves, Tristan Dandan, Jose Marti Caniones, Mary Joyce Fuerte and Carlo Caranyagan.

Coronel of Immaculate Mother School downed Kenneth Co of Xavier School in 25 moves of a Ruy Lopez game in the fifth and last round to rule the 12-under section and gained the first of the eleven contested slots during the finals for the selection of the members of the US- and Asia-bound team that concluded Sunday at St. Francis Square in Mandaluyong City.

Abug of Cainta Catholic College and Adrian Co of Xavier School shared top honors in the junior division to secure the other two slots while Vincent Joseph Fuerte of Bagong Tanyag Elem. School and San Diego of Dasmariñas Academy topped the 10-under and 8-under groups respectively to earn another two slots.

Gaining five of the remaining six slots were Teves of Don Bosco Technical Institute and Dandan of Cavite who finished second and third respectively in the 12-under bracket; Caniones of Ateneo and younger Fuerte, Mary Joyce, who wound up second and third spot in the 10-under division and Caranyagan of San Mateo Elem. School who followed San Diego in the 8-under section.

The last slot will still be contested between Co and Claudio Olar Jr. of Quirino High School who ended up in a tie for fourth place in the 12-under with 1.5 points apiece.

The round-robin event is organized by Metropolitan Chess Club to give promising and deserving Milo Checkmate kids the chance to gain exposure abroad at an early age.