FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca stunned second seed International Master Prin Laohawirapap of Thailand in the ninth and final round to snatch a bronze medal in the Open rapid event of the Eastern Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championships 2024 in Karawaci-Tangerang, Indonesia Thursday night, July 4.

The 15-year-old Arca, a ninth-grader from Dasmariñas Integrated High School and native of Panabo, Davao del Norte, actually finished tied for third with Laohawirapap with seven points apiece but took the third place honors via win-over-the-other rule. 

Vietnamese FM Dinh Nho Kiet clinched the gold medal after he edged FM Satria Duta Cahaya of host Indonesia via tiebreak after both chessers wound up with 7.5 points apiece. 

Cahaya settled for the silver.

John Jerish Velarde, another Filipino bet entered in this nine-round tournament, meanwhile, finished tied for ninth to 14th spot with 5.5 points. 

It was another strong showing for Arca, a recipient of the PSA Tony Siddayao award who is tipped as the next big thing in Philippine chess. 

In the girls’ rapid, Mhage Sebastian ended up at fourth to seventh with six points, just a full point behind eventual titlist Shafira Devi Herfesa of Indonesia, who edged teammate WIM Laysa Latifah and WFM Samantha Edithso via tiebreaker after the three wound up with seven points each. 

Arca and the rest of the delegation headed by National Chess Federation of the Philippines chief executive officer GM Jayson Gonzales seek a better finish in the standard section that started Friday, July 5.