Tabernilla, Piel deliver

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ Thyrone James Tabernilla and Jaymiel Piel came out of nowhere to top their respective age brackets in the Eastern Asian Youth Chess Championships in Penang, Malaysia.

Tabernilla sent shockwaves in the open Under-16 division where he finished with seven points that he capped with a ninth and final round triumph over countryman Keith Adriane Ilar.

The 16-year-old, 11th-grader from La Salle Zobel wound up half a point ahead of Mongolian Burentsegsh Aldar and Chinese Lin Dianqi, who each finished with 6.5 points.

Piel ruled the open U14 class where he scored 7.5 points that he iced with a triumph over Malaysian Shen Ree Herng.