Cebu's Apple Rubin 7th in PH National Women's Chess Selection

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu’s rising chess star Apple Rubin finished seventh overall in the highly competitive 2026 Philippine National Women’s Selection held in Quezon City.

Facing the country’s elite female woodpushers in a grueling 14-round tournament, Rubin showcased her potential by tallying 5.5 points to place seventh among the eight finalists. She edged Kate Nicole Ordizo, who finished eighth with 5.0 points.

The Toledo City pride, a double gold medalist and a silver medalist in the Palarong Pambansa in Agusan del Sur, posted four victories during the tournament. She defeated Ordizo in the seventh round and Heart Padilla in the eighth round.

READ: Rubin beats Pamplona in PH Nat’l Women’s Chess Championships

Rubin also pulled off two notable upsets against higher-rated opponents. She stunned Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Cherry Ann Mejia in the 11th round, a familiar rival who also represents the Toledo Xignex Trojans in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP). She followed it up with another impressive victory over WFM Allanney Jia Doroy.

She also earned valuable draws against some of the tournament’s top performers, including eventual champion Mhage Sebastian in the third round, WFM Shania Mae Mendoza in the fifth round, and Ordizo in the final round.

Goal: Woman Nat’l Master title

Rubin’s campaign would definitely bolster her bid to secure her first title, a woman national master (WNM) which she is pursuing after Palarong Pambansa.

Sebastian captured the national women’s title with 9.0 points, followed by Mendoza with 8.5 points. Doroy placed third with 7.5 points, while Woman International Master (WIM) Bernadette Galas also scored 7.5 points to finish fourth on tiebreaks. Padilla placed fifth with 7.0 points, and Mejia finished sixth with 6.0 points.

Sebastian and Mendoza secured spots on the Philippine women’s team for the World Chess Olympiad later this year.

READ: Lavandero, Rubin crack Top 10 in PH National Women’s Chess Championships

Meanwhile, International Master (IM) Jan Emmanuel Garcia ruled the men’s division with 9.5 points after six wins and seven draws. He will be joined by Grandmaster (GM) Darwin Laylo and IM Michael Concio Jr., who finished second and third, respectively, as the country’s representatives in one of the world’s most prestigious chess competitions.

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