15/04/2026
๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ | Young Mind, Golden Move
Gerald Soriano de Luna
At just 10 years old, Franz Jaiden S. Tomas has already experienced the thrill of success, but for him, the real game is only beginning.
Representing the Schools Division Office of Cauayan City, Jaiden sealed the gold medal in the Elementary Boys Blitz Category of the individual chess competition, a milestone that stands as his first-ever championship since he started playing chess at the age of six.
Behind the quick moves and sharp calculations on the board is a young learner balancing school life and disciplined training. Guided by Coach Aaron G. Bautista, Jaiden follows a structured routine that integrates daily school-based practice, ensuring that improvement becomes part of his everyday learning rather than an occasional effort.
Outside the classroom setting, his development continues every Saturday at the Isabela Chess Club, where he faces stronger opponents and learns advanced strategies that challenge his growing skills.
The exposure, according to his training setup, builds not only technical ability but also confidence against unfamiliar playing styles.
For Coach Bautista, Jaydenโs progress is the result of consistency rather than pressure. The combination of school-based discipline and club-level competition has shaped a young athlete learning how to think ahead, stay calm under time pressure, and recover from mistakes on the board.
Yet even with a gold medal secured, Jaidenโs journey toward higher goals remains unfinished. The Standard Category, which requires longer thinking time and deeper strategic planning, still poses a challenge that he must overcome to qualify for the Palarong Pambansa 2026.
Compared to blitz matches, the Standard format demands patience, endurance, and sustained concentration, areas where Jaiden and his coach acknowledge the need for further intensive preparation in the coming year.
Still, the achievement carries meaning beyond the medal itself. For Jaiden, it is proof that years of effort are starting to pay off. For his coach, it is a sign that the foundation is strong enough to build something greater.
Both athlete and mentor remain aligned in their goal: to secure a Palaro berth. The gold medal, they say, is not the destination, but a move forward in a much larger match still unrolling.
