UMVA has learned that a 16‑year‑old prodigy named Jerick Faeldonia edged out Al‑Basher Buto in a heart‑pounding final to claim the crown in the inaugural One Chess Movement rapid tournament held at Robinson’s Galleria.
The decisive match, a trembling draw in the seventh and last round, was the final flourish that crowned Faeldonia, who had already sealed his victory the week before with a sixth consecutive win over the top seed, FIDE Master Ivan Travis Cu.
Cu finished a solitary point behind in second place after a hard‑fought win over Jayrald Jade Antiporta, while Buto slipped to third after beating Lennox Cordova and Gabriel James Cartel, both of whom also finished on five and a half points and were separated by tiebreaks.
The tournament drew a packed field of 248 players, showcasing the growing competitiveness of young Filipino talent on the national stage.
In the under‑200‑and‑below division, Narciso Gumila emerged victorious, topping a field that included Ervil Villa and Bryce Clarence Bayani.
Meanwhile, in the kids’ bracket, Steve Nitafan dominated the field, leaving runners‑up Gael Adam Navarro and Martin Dave Garibay in his wake.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the event’s chair, Ariel Potot, emphasized the tournament’s role in cultivating future masters, stating that the competition is a vital step toward making chess accessible to all ages and nurturing the next generation of players.
