On Richelieu "Jongjong" Salcedo III
Neglected chess talent flourishes
By Lynde Salgados
UNABLE to get home-based support, former Batang Pinoy champion Richelieu "Jongjong" Salcedo III left the province of Misamis Oriental, some five years ago, to try his luck in the big city.
He enrolled as first-year high school at Rizal Technology University (RTU) in Mandaluyong City under its varsity sports program. RTU coach in former Olympiad campaigner, National Master Mauro Yasay took the youthful Salcedo under his wings.
Since then, the pride of Inubolan, Salay, Misamis Oriental clustered out many tournament victories in the junior level as the new kid in the block of the tough Manila chess circuit.
Last year, Salcedo played in tandem with Jan Emmanuel Garcia playing board 2 for the National Capital Region (NCR) that copped the elementary chess title of the Palarong Pambansa then held in Koronadal, South Cotabato.
Such feat is a dream of every young Filipino chess player who finds competing in the annual Palaro to be a daunting task to hurdle. But that won't offer much excitement to Jongjong's father who considers it more esteemed and prestigious seeing their son one day representing the country in foreign shore.
"Filipino chess players can't expect more in this kind of mental sport if they don't have the chance to play abroad," the older Totong Salcedo used to sermon, philosophically, in local chess jaunts.
Only recently, Totong's most cherished dream is bound to turn into reality when Jongjong Salcedo emerged triumphant in the 2008 National Age-Group chess championship in Manila.
The now 17-year-old Salcedo placed runner-up behind Karl Victor Ochoa of Bulacan in 18-under boys category of the age-group chessfest. The No.1 seed Ochoa tallied 7.5 points in nine-round Swiss, while Salcedo (seeded 8) and third-running Leo Daylo Jr. (seeded 2) got superior tiebreak results among a small group of 6.5 pointers to occupy second and third, respectively.
According to NCFP tournament director Willy Abalos, the top-three finishers in each bracket will be funded by the Philippine chess federation to represent the country in the forthcoming Asean Age-Group tourney in Vietnam.
"I want to accompany Jongjong in Vietnam so I'm very excited now preparing our papers abroad," Totong told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
Last year's Asean double-gold medallist Haridas Pascua apparently failed to make the cut this year. Pascua landed at seventh spot in the talents-packed 16-under-boys section, which has darkhorse bets Alcon John Datu, Loren Brigham Laceste and Narquingden Reyes as the top-three winners.
Bankrolled by his parents, Cagayan de Oro's lone entry in the Asean age-group qualifier, Tristan Frech Ibaoc of Corpus Christi Grade School settled at 9th place in the 10-under-boys level being ruled by Paulo Bersamina.
"Tristan lost in his final round match. At least, he almost made it to the top-five in his first try. It's a great experience," said his ever supportive father, Dodoy Ibaoc.
For various reasons also compounded by lack of support, CDO-Misor's top kiddies and juniors failed to see action in the just-concluded age group and the ongoing national junior championship also played in Mandaluyong City.
