Candice Renee Beatrice Solidarios, a 15-year-old grade 10 student of the University of the Philippines (UP) Rural High School was declared champion of the Sudoku Grandmaster in the 10th Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge Sudoku (PSSC) national finals held at the Skydome, SM North EDSA in Quezon City on January 30, 2016.

Bested 36 others in the grandmaster category, Solidarios won P60,000 and a trophy.

The other winners in the Grandmaster group were first runner-up- Natalia Beatrice Dy of St. John’s Institute, winning P40,000 plus trophy; second runner –up, Joel Edward Cardinal of UP Diliman with P20,000 and trophy; Ralph Joshua Sarrosa at fourth place; and Gerrick Spencer Limsiy of Grace Christian College at fifth place.

Emerging as the champion in the Sudoku Wizard was Errol John Suarez, grade 10 student of Aquinas University of Legazpi, winning P50,000 plus trophy. Making it in the top five winners were the following puzzlers, first runner-up, Jonathan Conrad Yu of Philippine Christian Gospel School with P30,000 and a trophy; second runner-up, John Joseph Gabata of Dr. Yanga’s Colleges Inc. with P20,000 and a trophy; third runner-up, Vicente Raphael Chan of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School; and fourth runner-up, Guinevere Soria of Philippine Science High School-Davao.

In the Sudoku Whiz Kid Division, Christian Bayas of Akle Elementary School in San Ildefonso, Bulacan won the champion trophy and P20,000. The other winners were first runner-up Kyla Andrea Adlaon of the International School for Better Beginnings with P10,000 and trophy; second runner-up Robert Frederick Uy of St. John’s Institute with P5,000 and a trophy; third-runner-up Frederick de Guzman of Little Angel Study Center; and fourth runner-up, Kristine Marie Carpio of Sta. Barbara Elementary School.

This year’s PSSC was made successful by the following supportive partners and sponsors, SM City North EDSA, the Philippine Star, Phoenix Publishing House, SIB Publishing House, JFC Publishing House, Philippine Chinese General Restaurant Association, Inc., David’s Tea House, Vital 1- the purified drinking water and Zamboanga Today.