Roxas City prodigy named NCAA chess MVP

By Eduard Basilonia

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — The San Beda University (SBU) Red Lions chess team clinched the junior chess tournament title in the 101st National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), led by rising star Chester Acuyong of Barangay Milibili, Roxas City.

Acuyong played on the top board for the SBU secondary chess team, recording eight straight wins and securing the board one championship trophy, which earned him the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors.

In the early 2000s, Acuyong was a student at Capiz National High School when he was crowned chess champion at the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) meet.

He later emerged as the national champion in the Under-15 blitz tournament at the 2nd Mayor Seth Frederick “Bullet” Jalosjos Under-15 National Youth and Schools Chess Championships in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, in 2023.

His participation in the national tournament was made possible through the support of Mayor Ronnie T. Dadivas and the Roxas City Government.

Acuyong and fellow Capiz chess player Mark Alfonso Azaola also won the Batang Pinoy Under-15 rapid chess title after scoring 10.5 points, beating more than 70 other cities and provinces across the country.

That campaign was backed by Capiz Gov. Fredenil H. Castro and the Provincial Government of Capiz.

The NCAA, established in 1924, is the country’s oldest collegiate athletic association.

Francis Jocson, Capiz’s first National Master in chess, congratulated Acuyong for his exceptional achievements, saying his success reflects positively on both himself and Roxas City.

“There is no doubt that, in due time, Chester will become another Capiz chess national master,” Jocson said.

Acuyong is scheduled to return to Roxas City on Dec. 16, according to his parents, Celso and Smillyn Acuyong.