Bonjoure Fille Suyamin delivered the best effort for the Philippines in the Eastern Asian Youth Chess Championships after topping the girls’ Under-16 rapid event in Penang, Malaysia over the weekend.

Suyamin, a 14-year-old Far Eastern University eight-grader, downed Mongolian Zoljargal Enkhkhaliun in the seventh and final round to finish with six points, which was enough to seal the gold.

Another Philippine bet Christian Gian Karlo Arca had a chance to also strike gold in the premier Open Under-18 but he fell to eventual champion FIDE Master Poh Yu Tian in the last round and settled for the bronze.

Arca also pocketed the silver in the team event alongside FM Ivan Travis Cu and John Dave Lavandero.

Also claiming team silver were Ashzley Aya Nicole Paquinol, Lila Alyssa Serina and Kena Areld Galleguez (girls U14), Davin Sean Romualdez, Jaymiel Piel and Ran Zeth Marco Magallanes (open U14) and Phil Martin Casiguran, Tyrhone Jamnes Tabernilla and Keith Adriane Ilar (open U16).

The nine-round standard event had started yesterday with blitz to be played right after it.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines chief executive officer Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales thanked NCFP’s Butch Pichay, Philippine Sports Commission chair Richard Bachmann and Philippine Olympic Committee chair Richard Bachmann as well as the players’ respective local government units for their support.