22/07/2026
SPORTS | ๐๐จ๐ฒ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐จ๐๐ค๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ญ ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ง
NABUNTURAN, Davao de Oro โ Clark Ivan Loyloy orchestrated a masterclass on the board, sweeping all five rounds to capture the Secondary Boys Chess gold medal in the 2026 Nabunturan West District Meet at the Nabunturan Central Elementary School SPED Center on Saturday, July 18.
The Nabunturan National Comprehensive High School (NNCHS) sensation posted a pristine 5.0 score, recording a 1,784 performance rating and an 11.50 SonnebornโBerger tiebreak score to punch his ticket to the upcoming Municipal Meet.
"Time management and good opening. Focus lang din pud sa game para ma-control nimo ang board," Loyloy said regarding his strategic approach.
Despite his dominant run, the 17-year-old woodpusher admitted that high expectations from his squad created mental hurdles throughout the five-round Swiss-system tournament.
โIsa sa difficulties nako during sa game kay ang pressure,โ Loyloy revealed. โNag-expect ang akoang mga teammates na mag-champion ko, so maka-pressure dyod siya.โ
Loyloy faced his toughest test in Round 3 against former Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) standout Dzeive Angub of Assumption College Nabunturan (ACN).
Locked in a sharp positional struggle, the NNCHS woodpusher seized control when Angub cracked under time pressure, committing a fatal blunder that allowed Loyloy to convert a winning endgame.
Carrying the momentum into the final round, Loyloy dismantled New Sibonga NHS bet Gabriel Moralaโs defense, forcing a resignation to seal the tournament sweep.
Meanwhile, fellow NNCHS woodpusher Nhiel Makiling secured the silver medal with a 4.5-point finish, while teammate Melvin Padama placed 11th with 2.0 points.
| The Valley
โ Cherry Mae Glinogo
๐ธ Ezra Duarte
