The search for the next Philippine grandmaster went off to a blazing start with 110 kids responding to the 1000GM (grandmaster) Chess Academy inaugural tournament recently at the Robinson's Galleria Mall in Ortigas.

The ambitious project, bankrolled by the 1000GM organization, saw an immense talent pool compete for a slot in the national finals set next year.

Danry Seth Romualdez scored a perfect seven wins to take the U11 category.

The eight-year-old Romualdez bested a girl campaigner, Amber Mariana Maravilla, 10, in the last round in a sharp Accelerated Sicilian Dragon game that saw advantages shift to both sides. Maravilla failed to nurse an extra pawn advantage and blundered last, giving up the exchange.

Six-year-old Tori Ansel Mariano scored three wins and was among 55 kids who competed. Caleb Loukas Picache-David and Caleb Royce Garcia made it a 1-2-3 finish for Pasig chessers, scoring six points apiece.

In the 14-Under category, third seed Summer Justine Oncita won with black in the seventh round, beat Almwayne Magpusao, and took the champion's title with 6.5 points. Fourth seed Cyrus Luis Mahawan took solo second with six points among 45 age-group campaigners.

Parents, some of whom traveled from faraway Infanta, Quezon, supported their son's passion and signified their intention to compete in the next leg on 17 March, also at the Robinsons Galleria.

The 1000GM project aims to guide both parents and kids to achieve full potential into becoming world beaters. The website, https://academy.1000gm.net, can be accessed for a minimal fee and will lay out the groundwork for guidance.