Hans Lee Villorente (right) and his father Jerome during a training session. 

Hans Lee Villorente, a talented young chess player hailing from Antique, is gearing up for his participation in the upcoming 2023 NCFP Philippine National Amateur Chess Championships’ final leg. This tournament is scheduled to take place on September 9th and 10th, utilizing the Tornelo and Zoom platforms for remote competition.

At just 13 years old, Villorente is a grade 8 student at the Regional Science High School for Region 6 in Kalibo. He is about to embark on a challenging journey, facing off against some of the Philippines’ most skilled chess enthusiasts. The tournament will follow a 9-round Swiss system format, with each player allotted 10 minutes per match and a 5-second increment for their moves. This prestigious event is proudly sponsored by NCFP Legal Counsel Atty. Nikki De Vega.

Villorente’s journey into the world of chess began at the tender age of four, under the guidance of his father, Jerome. Over the years, he has honed his skills by participating in numerous chess tournaments, including the 2022 Batang Pinoy Games, where he secured a silver medal in the standard chess event.

His most recent competition was the 2nd AQ Prime FIDE Standard Chess Open Tournament, held from August 19th to 21st at Robinsons Metro East in Pasig City. In this tournament, he displayed his prowess, accumulating 3.5 points from seven intense matchups.

During this event, Villorente achieved notable victories against opponents like Nathan Jon Anarna (first round), Paul Matthew Llanillo (fourth round), and Sean Justine Alano (seventh round). He also drew with Daren dela Cruz in the third round. However, he faced challenging battles, succumbing to Natasja Jasmine Balabbo (second round), Yuri Lei Paraguya (fifth round), and Chessica Fiona Sadey (sixth round).

Villorente expressed his dedication to continuous improvement and vowed to apply the valuable lessons he learned from the 2nd AQ Prime FIDE Standard Chess Open Tournament to his future competitions.

In his chess journey, he extends heartfelt gratitude to his parents for their unwavering support. (ai/mnm)