Five players from the King’s Gambit Online Chess School of Coach Richard Villaseran showed promise after qualifying for the 2024 Palarong Pambansa.

National Master Michael Jan Stephen Rosalem Iñigo bannered the qualifiers that also include National Master Keith Adriane Ilar, Ralz Devibar, Pat Ferdolf Macabulos and Arwin Martinez.

“I’m proud of the players, they really worked hard for these achievements.  We could have qualified more players but the breaks of the game such as rules and tiebreaks did not favor some of them.  But what’s good about these 5 qualifiers is that all of them are medal contenders,” Villaseran said.

NM Ilar earned a berth by bagging the silver medal in the NMVRAA Standard completion, while NM Iñigo took home the gold medal in the CVIRAA to force an Armagedon playoff for the second slot which he won. Both players will compete in the secondary division.

Devibar, meanwhile, took home three gold medals in the DVRAA while Macabulos and Martinez pocketed silver medals in their respective meets for tickets in the elementary division.

Aside from the upcoming Palarong Pambansa, Coach Villaseran’s wards are also gearing up for important tournaments such as as the National Age Group, National Juniors, ASEAN Age Group and Eastern Asia Juniors. 

Other King’s Gambit players vying for the title in these prestigious chess competitions are Woman National Master Antonella Berthe "Tonelle" Racasa, Vincent Ryu Dimayuga, Chester Acuyong, National Master John Cyrus Borce and sister Cyriene, Joriel, Christian Mendoza, Tiv Omangay,  James Yap, Jessielou Sarias, Keziah Alvero, Muellene Ymber Babao, Daren Corro, Artjoe Capatan, Maroc Sandido, Kristoff Bautista, among others.