Aklan Wood Pushers Bag 4 Medals in Chess

By Boy Ryan Zabal

Mira Mirano came home with one silver medal while Susan Grace Neri flew home with three bronze medals after 10 days of chess competition in Pattaya, Thailand.
The two Aklanon wood pushers participated in the Philippine National Team for the 8th Asean Age-Group Chess Championships at the Jomtien Thani Hotel in Pattaya, Thailand last June 13 to 22.
According to National Master Wilfredo Neri, provincial sports coordinator, the chess event was under the aegis of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Chess Confederation headed by FIDE General Secretary Ignatius Leong of Singapore.
Neri reported that the national age group champions Mira Mirano of Banga, Aklan and Susan Grace Neri of Kalibo, Aklan competed in the U-8, 10, 12, 14 and 18 age groups for girls in the standard (90 minutes with 30 seconds increment), blitz (5 minutes) and rapid (each player shall have 30 minutes to complete the game) events.
Mirano, the 2006 national juniors and age group champion, also competed in the 7th ASEAN Age Group Championships for girls’ under-10 in Jakarta, Indonesia from June 11 to 20, 2006.
"The chess team experienced stiff competition from Vietnam national players, the perennial age group winners since 2000," Neri said. The Vietnamese went home as over all champions while the Philippines is third.
Neri stressed the sports program of Aklan Gov. Carlito Marquez produced national and international champions – boxer Rob Montero, chess player Jan Francis Mirano and high and long jumper Merily Teodosio - aside from Mirano and Neri.
"The efforts of the administration of Gov. Marquez has revitalized the provincial sports and physical fitness programs and had given honors to Aklan," he added. /MP