Five-year-old Jodiel Chloe Banawa of Alicia, Isabela emerged as one of the Philippines’ top performers at the 24th ASEAN+ Age-Group Chess Championships in Singapore after winning six gold medals.

Banawa swept the Girls Under-6 division, taking individual gold in the standard, rapid, and blitz events. She also helped the Philippine team secure gold medals in the same three categories.

In the standard event, Banawa finished with six points in seven games and clinched the title after defeating fellow Filipino Rien Euri Villa in the final round. Her lone loss came in the third round against India’s Aditi Nambiar, but she bounced back by winning her remaining four matches.

She posted another six-point finish in the rapid event, tying fellow Filipino Elisha Romarate for the individual gold. Banawa, Romarate, and Villa later combined to win the team title.

Banawa is the daughter of International Master Joel Banawa, who also serves as her coach and heads the chess program in Alicia. She began playing chess only last year and was the youngest member of the Philippine delegation in the Singapore tournament.

The championships were held from August 7 to 17 at Our Tampines Hub.

Banawa’s six-gold performance came just two months after she swept the standard, rapid, and blitz titles in the Girls Under-8 division of the National Age Group Chess Championships in Olongapo City, where she competed against older players.

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