𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐊𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐘
Jul 17, 2024 - 1 minute read
𝐁𝐲: 𝐑𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐂. 𝐀𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚, 𝐏𝐡𝐃𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥“𝐶ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒; 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦.”𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: 𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐎. 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐨, 𝐚 𝟗-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨, 𝐀𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧...
𝐁𝐲: 𝐑𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐂. 𝐀𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚, 𝐏𝐡𝐃
𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐈
𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥
“𝐶ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒; 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦.”
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: 𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐎. 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐨, 𝐚 𝟗-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨, 𝐀𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟓 𝐩𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐈𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥, 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜.
Gabriel learned the rudiments of chess and exhibited an early fascination with the sport at the age of two after discovering an online game on his computer. He then explored the countless variations within each opening and basic endgame theory from his mentor, Rockey P. Pagkaliwagan, and joined his first chess tournament at five years old. Like many prodigies, he proved that he was born a natural at the sport.
Since then, Gabriel has made his mark in more chess competitions, such as the National Youth and Schools Chess Championships 2022, where he emerged as champion in the under-9 Blitz category. Additionally, he participated in the National Age Group Chess Championships, earning a spot in the grand finals and placing sixth. In Batang Pinoy 2023, he reached the finals, winning a gold medal in the rapid team category and a silver medal in the rapid individual category. He also achieved victory at the Caraga Regional Athletic Meet, which qualified him for the Palarong Pambansa 2023, where he was awarded 5th place in the standard category.
At the USSIBA Division Athletic Meet 2024, Gabriel prevailed in the final game sets, winning gold in the blitz individual category, silver in the standard individual category, gold in the blitz team category, and bronze in the team standard category. It qualified him for the Caraga Regional Athletic Games 2024, where he triumphed with gold medals in the Individual Blitz Category, Team Blitz Category, and Team Standard Category. He also won a silver medal in the Individual Standard Category, qualifying him for the Palarong Pambansa 2024, which will be held on July 9-16, 2024, in Cebu City, Philippines, with his mother, Mrs. Rachel Givero, as his coach.
Recently, Gabriel achieved remarkable feats by sweeping the Under-12 boys division (standard, rapid, and blitz) in the National Age Group Chess Eliminations in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, on June 5 and the National Age Group Chess Championships grand finals in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, from June 22 to 30.
Becoming a young chess prodigy is not without its challenges. The demanding training schedules often require sacrifices in other areas of life, including school and social activities. It can be difficult for a young chess prodigy to juggle rigorous chess training with academic commitments. Yet Gabriel demonstrates resilience and a single-minded pursuit of excellence. He has consistently been the top performer in his class from 1st grade to 4th grade and displayed an inherent curiosity and passion for astronomy, the mysteries of the cosmos, and the wonders of the universe. Tailored to his interests and aspirations, Gabriel hopes to become a well-known astronaut and play chess in outer space.
In the intricate game of chess, parents serve as invaluable guides, shaping the journey of their young players. Gabriel's parents, Mrs. Rachel Givero, a DepEd Secondary School Teacher, and Mr. Carlito Givero, an entrepreneur, actively participate in his chess journey by providing encouragement, resources, emotional support, and fostering a positive mindset. As parents, they fortify the foundation for the success of their only child both on and off the chessboard.
As this young chess prodigy continues to make waves in local and national tournaments, the chess community eagerly anticipates his next moves. His story highlights the evolving nature of the game and inspires a new generation of young chess enthusiasts to dream big, work hard, and checkmate their way to success, even on the global chessboard.
𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐈
𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥
“𝐶ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒; 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦.”
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: 𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐎. 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐨, 𝐚 𝟗-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨, 𝐀𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟓 𝐩𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐈𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥, 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜.
Gabriel learned the rudiments of chess and exhibited an early fascination with the sport at the age of two after discovering an online game on his computer. He then explored the countless variations within each opening and basic endgame theory from his mentor, Rockey P. Pagkaliwagan, and joined his first chess tournament at five years old. Like many prodigies, he proved that he was born a natural at the sport.
Since then, Gabriel has made his mark in more chess competitions, such as the National Youth and Schools Chess Championships 2022, where he emerged as champion in the under-9 Blitz category. Additionally, he participated in the National Age Group Chess Championships, earning a spot in the grand finals and placing sixth. In Batang Pinoy 2023, he reached the finals, winning a gold medal in the rapid team category and a silver medal in the rapid individual category. He also achieved victory at the Caraga Regional Athletic Meet, which qualified him for the Palarong Pambansa 2023, where he was awarded 5th place in the standard category.
At the USSIBA Division Athletic Meet 2024, Gabriel prevailed in the final game sets, winning gold in the blitz individual category, silver in the standard individual category, gold in the blitz team category, and bronze in the team standard category. It qualified him for the Caraga Regional Athletic Games 2024, where he triumphed with gold medals in the Individual Blitz Category, Team Blitz Category, and Team Standard Category. He also won a silver medal in the Individual Standard Category, qualifying him for the Palarong Pambansa 2024, which will be held on July 9-16, 2024, in Cebu City, Philippines, with his mother, Mrs. Rachel Givero, as his coach.
Recently, Gabriel achieved remarkable feats by sweeping the Under-12 boys division (standard, rapid, and blitz) in the National Age Group Chess Eliminations in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, on June 5 and the National Age Group Chess Championships grand finals in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, from June 22 to 30.
Becoming a young chess prodigy is not without its challenges. The demanding training schedules often require sacrifices in other areas of life, including school and social activities. It can be difficult for a young chess prodigy to juggle rigorous chess training with academic commitments. Yet Gabriel demonstrates resilience and a single-minded pursuit of excellence. He has consistently been the top performer in his class from 1st grade to 4th grade and displayed an inherent curiosity and passion for astronomy, the mysteries of the cosmos, and the wonders of the universe. Tailored to his interests and aspirations, Gabriel hopes to become a well-known astronaut and play chess in outer space.
In the intricate game of chess, parents serve as invaluable guides, shaping the journey of their young players. Gabriel's parents, Mrs. Rachel Givero, a DepEd Secondary School Teacher, and Mr. Carlito Givero, an entrepreneur, actively participate in his chess journey by providing encouragement, resources, emotional support, and fostering a positive mindset. As parents, they fortify the foundation for the success of their only child both on and off the chessboard.
As this young chess prodigy continues to make waves in local and national tournaments, the chess community eagerly anticipates his next moves. His story highlights the evolving nature of the game and inspires a new generation of young chess enthusiasts to dream big, work hard, and checkmate their way to success, even on the global chessboard.