OJ Reyes wins the Fide/NCFP Standard rating grand finals age group chess championships

OSHRIE Jhames “OJ” Constantino Reyes, grade 3 pupil of GNC Montessori, Pampanga, defeated Yuan Carl Ditao in the ninth and final round to top the FIDE/NCFP Standard rating grand finals age group chess championships held at in Olongapo City on Jan. 31 to Feb. 2.

The 8-year-old OJ, who was slowed down by a draw with Pat Ferdolf Macabulos in the opening round then beat everybody in the next eight rounds. OJ tallied 8.5 points in nine outings on account of eight wins and one draw to win the title in the Boys Under 10 class.

“OJ reigns as the champion in the strong field chess tournament by converting his difficult game positions into victories that overpowered his co-finalist from different cities & provinces with a superb performance with almost perfect score of 8.5 points out of 9 rounds, standard time control.” said Jubail, Kingdom of Saudia Arabia based Jaime “Jimmy” Reyes, OJ’s father.

OJ won three silver medals in the boys under 8 division of the 9-day 20th ASEAN Age Group Chess Championships 2019 held from June 10 to 18, 2019 at the Golden Mandalay Hotel and Hotel Hazel in Mandalay City, Myanmar.

OJ is also the 2019 Pampanga Schools Athletic Meet (PASDAM) chess champion held last November 19 to 22, 2019 at San Fernando, Pampanga.

OJ was supported by his coaches and trainers headed by former World Chess Olympiad member International Master Barlo Nadera, Anthony Tungul, Garry Reyes, Juan Rojano Jr., Abel Dimalanta, Levis Miranda and Robinardo Chico. — Marlon Bernardino