AJHS chess wizards Fua and Co help Team PH shine at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships

Incoming Grade 9 Ateneo de Manila Junior High School (AJHS) students Marc Fua and Arjay Co- formerly of 8-Delgado and 8-Colombiere, respectively- were part of the medal-winning Philippine delegation to the recently concluded 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships held from 1-11 July 2025 in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia.

Marc Fua played a key role in securing three team medals for the Philippines: Silver in the U16 Standard category, and Bronze medals in both the U14 Rapid and U16 Blitz events. Meanwhile, Arjay helped lead the U16 Team to a Bronze medal finish in the Rapid category and further contributed to the U18 Team’s Bronze in the Blitz event. 

This prestigious tournament brought together over 400 young chess players from 21 countries, including ASEAN member states and dialogue partners such as the United States, Japan, China, Russia, India, Australia, Hong Kong, Macau, and South Korea.

Marc and Arjay are members of the AJHS Chess Varsity Team under Coach Ildefonso Datu. In preparation for the ASEAN Championship, they trained with the Philippine National Team under the guidance of FIDE Senior Trainer Grandmaster (FST GM) Jayson Gonzales and WGM Janelle Frayna- the first Woman Grandmaster (WGM) of the Philippines- showcasing their skills and proudly representing the country on the international stage.