National Master Keith Ilar of El Salvador, Misamis Oriental has gone deep into training under the guidance of King’s Gambit Online Chess School coach Richard Villaseran in preparation for three major tournaments in the next three weeks.
The 13-year-old Ilar, one of the online chess school’s most promising student, is set to compete in the Kaamulan Festival Chess Open in Bukidnon, the PSupt Lazaro 2nd Warden’s Open Raid Chess in Davao and the regional qualifying meet for the Palarong Pambansa.
“Keith has been training with King’s Gambit Online Chess School for close to a year now and we have intensified his training for the last two months,” said Villaseran.
National Master Keith Adriane Ilar (left) of El Salvador, Misamis Oriental and coach Richard Villaseran of King’s Gambit Online Chess School. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
“He has been our most dedicated, passionate and disciplined player so I’m going all in for him in terms of training.”
Villaseran said Ilar’s recent training regimen focused on the analysis of grandmaster games, middlegame and endgame.
After the three tournaments in April, Ilar will compete in an important juniors standard chess tournament for Mindanao players where an all-expense-paid trip to a tournament in Singapore awaits the champion.
He is also gearing up for the under-14 National Age Group, under-15 National School Youth and the 20-under National Juniors tournaments.
“We hope he gets to win the trip to the Singapore tournament as well as the National Age Group and National School Youth so he gets the opportunity to play abroad and improve his ratings in FIDE without spending so much,” added Villaseran.
“But ultimately, the goal for the year is for him to win the Asean Age Group under-14 in Laos in August and hopefully be given the opportunity to compete in the World Cadet under-14 in Italy later in the year. We’re doing everything possible to make him as ready as possible when the opportunity comes.”
Ilar topped the under-13 division of the Batang Pinoy and the online blitz championship of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines last December and ruled the elite open category of the Start Pack Rapid Chess Championship last January.
“I have been in deep training under King’s Gambit Online Chess School. I will not waste this opportunity being given to me by Coach Richard Villaseran. I promise to give my best in every training session, sparring games and most especially in tournaments,” Ilar said.
Among the other players of King’s Gambit Online Chess School preparing for national, regional and city chess meets are National Masters Michael Jan Inigo and John Cyrus Borce, Woman National Master Antonelle Racasa, candidate masters Vincent Ryu Dimayuga and Chester Acuyong.
Villaseran also helps train Pat Ferdolf Macabulos, Tiv Omangay, Ralz Devibar, Muellene Ymber Babao, Joriel Yap, Jessielou Sarias Jr., Romer Ceron Jr., Ian Dave Mercurio, Cyriene Borce, Art Joe Capatan, Marco Sanido, Daren Corro, Kezhia Alvero, Xandro Desepeda, Zedric Silva, Mark Sollano, Alquin Binas, Ynigo Baydo, Alekhine Dwayne Sapuan, Lord Yofiel Young, Ser Markell Lunaria, Yuri Miguel Estrella, Casey Josh Barinan, Gian Labaro, James and Jaden Tan, Clord Bragais, Fern Macabulos, Jayden Juezan and Terrence Relativo.