ILONGGO Shan Lester Lañada Jamerlan has been selected as part of the Philippine Chess Team in the Eastern Asia Youth 2019 slated from Aug. 1 to 10 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The six-year-old Jamerlan earned his spot in the national squad after ruling the boys under-7 category of the 2019 National Youth and School Chess Championship Grand Finals recently.
The woodpusher from Pavia, Iloilo won his category after garnering 6.5 points in the chess qualifier held from June 20 to 25 over at the Batangas State University (Malvar Campus).
The opportunity to represent the country in Thailand was already a bonus for the Grade-1 pupil of Pal-agon Amparo Elementary School as his only aim in participating in tournaments was to buy a milk and crib to his younger brother.
“He really has the will to win,” said Jamerlan’s father Rubin Jamerlan. “The reason why he wants to win all his chess tournaments was to buy his baby brother Rob a milk and crib.”
“Lester does not have the luxury like other chess players. He only practices chess under the mahogany three,” added his mother Ma Sheila Lañada Jamerlan. “God is good he won the championship in Batangas and will represent the country in Thailand.”
Jamerlan will become the first chess player from the Pavia Chessers Club to represent the country in international competition./PN
