LUNA, Apayao—After an amazing run against woman chess masters in the country with a total of six points and placing 5th in the overall standing in the first phase, Apayao chess prodigy Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian delivered another upset win against veteran Olympian Woman International Master Marie Antoinette San Diego on February 27 in her opening game in the second round-robin match in the selection for the Philippine National Team.
Sebastian, 14, the youngest grand finalist employed a hard to crack opening in a Sicilian Dragon game and came out victoriously as she outplayed the highest rated and seeded number one San Diego in the endgame with only a minute left in her clock.
WIM San Diego pushed hard for a win but Sebastian found a strong refuge and displayed a good defense with the aid of her powerful bishop. Both in less than a minute in their clocks, Sebastian employed unexpected tactics which snatched the knight of her opponent and after just a few moves, San Diego resigned.
It was a thrilling game between a master and a rising star from the rubbles of a difficult and unclear position along with the time squabble for both chess warriors.
In the first phase, Sebastian who was the board 1 player of Far Eastern University Diliman girls and the Rookie of the Year of last year’s UAAP Season ’82 managed to beat one Woman Fide Master, two Woman National Masters and one Candidate Master while she drew against WIM Bernadette Galas and WFM Allaney Doroy.
With the performance of Sebastian, her parents were delighted with the first great win of their daughter against Philippine top caliber WIM chess player. “As parents, we want to savour the beauty of watching our daughter clash and win against elite and best wood pushers in our country in her young age,” the father said.
The parents look forward and pray that younger Sebastian would attain her master title soon. “We really aim through God’s grace and favor that Mhage continue to improve and hit her goal of becoming a full pledge Grandmaster in her teenage years,” her father said
The game runs from February 26 to March 3 at the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence in Quezon City. The top five finishers in the women and top 8 in men shall have a spot in the training pool of the Philippine Team.
BY GERRIAHZON S. SEBASTIAN
Photo: Mhage Sebastian upsets Olympian WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego in the Philippine Chess Team selection. BY WFM MICHELLE YAON
