5-year-old Banawa tops National Age Group Chess Championships

JODIEL CHLOE BANAWA, a five-year-old woodpusher from Alicia, Isabela, asked her father Joel, an International Master, to teach her chess a year ago out of curiosity.

Exactly one year after learning the royal game, she is now a national champion.

It happened on Saturday night after Ms. Banawa bested older opponents and topped the Under-8 girls division of the National Age Group Chess Championships at the SMX Convention Center in Olongapo City.

Ms. Banawa needed to win her first four matches that served as a cushion to her fifth and final-round defeat to Alaia Callie Rizare to claim her biggest title to date.

She actually finished tied for first with Ms. Rizare, Chiara Vida Florendo and Zein Akee Fordan with four points apiece but ended up with the highest tiebreak that sealed her the crown in this event made possible by Olongapo City’s head of youth and sports development David Bayarong and Joel J. Villanueva.

“Surprisingly, she (Jodiel) picked it up quickly,” said Ms. Banawa’s father, who heads Alicia, Isabela’s chess program.

Mr. Banawa said the sky’s the limit for his daughter, who if given the right support, could be a potential future for Philippine chess.

“She hasn’t played for over a year yet,” said Mr. Banawa.

Other winners in the Olongapo tilt were Oscar Joseph Cantela (U20 boys), Jemaicah Mendoza (U20 girls), Phil Martin Casiguran (U18 boys), Daren Dela Cruz (U18 girls), Keith Adriane Ilar (U16B), Celine Santillan (U16G), Marquis Angelo Mallorca (U14B), Mary Angelo Bacojo (U14G), Marcus Jacutina (U12B), Khana Ventolero (U12G), Navi Icalina (U10B), Empress Anika Caole (U10G), and Bruce Wren Tatad (U8B). — Joey Villar