LUNA, Apayao – Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian, the former chess star for Apayao in the Cordillera Administrative Regional Athletic Association (CARAA) and Palarong Pambansa games, took another big climb in the ladder of the FIDE rankings as she bagged a silver medal in the Eastern Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championship held in Tanauan City, Batangas on December 9-16, 2019.
Sebastian, who is only 14, made a strong statement in the Eastern Asia as she bravely banged heads against chess champions of Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and national players from the Philippines, who are older, with more titles, and have higher FIDE ratings.
With her 5.5 points out of nine games in the Standard game, Sebastian is the 2nd best performing player as she amassed 68.4 Elo rating points from three wins, four draws and two losses. She managed to beat WFM Nguyen Thien Ngan of Vietnam, the champion in the ASEAN Age Group Chess Championship in the 14 years old under held in Myanmar.
Sebastian held her ground and split points against two WFMs: Christine Elisabeth of Indonesia and Nguyen Thi Minh Oanh of Vietnam, and teammate Samantha Umayan. In the 6th and 7th rounds, she had spectacular back-to-back wins against compatriots WNM Rizalyn Jasmine Tejada and 2019 National Junior Champion WNM Vic Glysen Derotas, respectively. Her only defeats came from international player and longtime ASEAN Age Group Teammate Jerlyn Mae San Diego and WIM Kylen Joy Mordido in the first and third rounds, respectively.
Sebastian recently made a remarkable feat in her first appearance in the UAAP Season ’82 Chess Competition when she grabbed the silver medal in board one behind the High School Most Valuable Player WFM Allaney Doroy of the National University. Sebastian brought home the Rookie of the Year Award because of her outstanding performance.
It can be recalled that Sebastian, now the top board player of Far Eastern University (FEU) High School girls, was then a consistent CARAA gold medalist and a four-time Palarong Pambansa player which has brought Apayao in the chess map of the Philippines.
Since 2013 she has been into ASEAN and ASIAN Age Group Chess Championships raking numerous medals for the country.
The now Grade 9 student is currently under the tutelage of Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales and WFM Michelle Yaon at FEU Diliman.
Medanwhile, Governor Eleanor C. Bulut-Begtang recently lauded Sebastian’s efforts in the event.
Bulut-Begtang took some time out of her very busy schedule to congratulate Sebastian for her recent achievement that had brought honor not only to the Province of Apayao but to the Philippines. She vowed to give incentives corresponding to her recent national and international competitions and to further support Sebastian in her future chess endeavors.
With the pronouncement, Sebastian and her father thanked the Governor for her kind and uplifting words which had motivated them further to keep pushing for their goal, that is, for the younger Sebastian to nail a Woman FIDE Master (WFM) and/or Woman International Master (WIM) this year. She is aiming to be the first full-pledged chess master in the Far North.
“We are expressing our utmost gratitude to our Governor for appreciating and commending the recent hard-earned medal of Mhage in this royal game. We are motivated how Gov. Leah applauded the efforts of our daughter in joining and bringing glory to the Province from international tournaments,” the older Sebastian said.
The latest achievement of Sebastian, who hails from Flora, Apayao, has been warmly regarded and praised not only by the highest official of Apayao but also by the first Woman Grandmaster of the Philippines, Janelle Frayna, who is affirming that through her industry and hard work, Sebastian will increase further her FIDE ELO ratings and achieve her goals this year.
Her parents finally decided last year to let her study in Manila to further hone her chess skills under the aid and supervision of above revered coaches and gain more quality exposures through strong national and international tournaments.
BY GERRIAHZON S. SEBASTIAN
Photo: Apayao chess prodigy Mhage Gerriahlou F. Sebastian (left) of Flora, Apayao shows her hardware during the courtesy call with Apayao Governor Eleanor C. Bulut-Begtang (middle). Ghierzen Lhou, sister of the silver medalist of the Eastern Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championships, is at the right. BY GERRIAHZON S. SEBASTIAN.