Chess runs in the blood of Docena family

Home > Running > Chess: Jerad Docena- Future Grand Master?

Chess: Jerad Docena- Future Grand Master?

December 6th, 2011 journeyingjames Leave a comment Go to comments

I was a chess player back in my elementary years. But because I was impatient, I just played volleyball and became a varsity player until highschool. My story was different from the story of Jerad and his older brothers- they succeeded not only in the sports of chess but also in their education.

Family of Chess Players

Three out of the five kid of couple Crispin and Sabiniana Docena were able to gain scholarship through playing Chess.

And two more are soon to follow with their recent exploits in the just concluded Batang Pinoy 2011 National Capital Region qualifying leg held at the University of Makati.

Docena Family

Jerad wins the Gold Medal

Jerad Docena, so young at 13, was able to outwit his much older opponent in the NCR Batang Pinoy chess tournament for a total of six points and gave this 2^nd year high school at Wesleyan College of Manila a gold medal.

Jerad started playing chess when he was three years old due to the influence of his older brothers, Levi, Jessie and Aries. All of his brothers played for Central Visayas Institute or CVISCAFT under full athletic scholarship until all of them were chosen as full academic scholar by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

DOST Scholars

“Hindi na po sila makasali sa mga malalaking tournament dahil subsub po sila ngayon sa pag-aaral. They played chess in elementary and high school pero noong nakapasa po sila sa DOST ay nag-focus na sa academics,” (They can’t join the chess tournaments because they are focused on academics now. During their elementary and highschool years they play chess but when they got the scholarship from DOST, they focused on studying) said Crispin, who accompanied Jerad and their youngest kid Jesca to join the Batang Pinoy.

Jerad accepting the award from PSC Commissioner Akiko Thompson-Guevarra

Shell Age Group Champion

At three years old, Jerad able to show his talent in the Asian Youth Championships where he finished at Top 10. His recent success was the 2011 Shell Age Group Championship where he brought the gold medal home- under-14 category.

Jerad also get some pointers from his older sister Jedara, who is a varsity member of the FEU chess team as well as national chess team that just played in recently concluded 26^th Southeast Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia.

Batang Pinoy Games NCR Leg Champ

Jerad is the champion of the Batang Pinoy NCR leg and will compete in Naga City this December 10-13 for the National Finals. I would not be surprised that after 5 years, Jerad will follow the path of Eugene Torre, Joey Antonio, Mark Paragua, Jason Gonzales and Wesley So to become a Chess Grand Master.

Written by: Lito Oredo and JourneyingJames