Shell chess grand final slated

MANILA, Philippines - Forty four players, making up the country’s future chess stars, gear up for the big battle on the chess board next week when the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship (Shell Chess) holds its grand finals on Oct. 10-11 at the SM Megamall Event Center.

They are all primed up, each raring to dish out their best and hoping to join the ranks of great names in RP chess that the annual chess event has produced, including Grand masters Nelson Mariano II, Mark Paragua, Darwin Laylo and the country’s current top player Wesley So.

Davao to host Shell chess

MANILA, Philippines - The Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship (Shell Active Chess) wraps up its seven-leg nationwide eliminations in Davao on Sept. 19-20 with a stellar field tipped to clash for top honors in two divisions at the SM City Davao Event Center.

Due to the expected big number of participants, organizers of the event have staked four berths each in the kiddies and juniors divisions, one more than what the past six legs had offered.

The top four players in both the 20-and-under and 14-and-under categories will advance to the national finals on Oct. 10-11 at the SM Megamall.

Nobleza, 7 others pace Iloilo Shell active chess

MANILA, Philippines - Argie Nobleza and Joel Pimentel Jr. swept their first four matches to lead six others with perfect scores in the junior division halfway through the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships Western Visayas leg at SM City-Iloilo in Iloilo City last Saturday.

Nobleza trounced McKennly Feranco, John Escutin, Khier Embrado and Vergel Neri while Pimentel beat Rio Estorque, Stephen Divinagracia, Keinth Cuardas and Rene Canata as they braced for a spirited chase for top honors in the last three rounds of the 20-and-under category.

Nineteen players, led by Vincent Crucero, Clifford Cobsilen Jr., showed the way in the kiddies category with four points while three others turned in 3.5 points apiece to likewise set up a tight battle in the 14-and-under class of the event serving as the penultimate leg of a seven-stage nationwide elims sponsored by Pilipinas Shell.

Crucero downed Rogie Italia, Jane Guirheim, Allen Gimeno and Francine Fuentes while Cobsilen trampled Rey Rentillo, Jose Selibio, Jan Templonuevo and Reggie Tenibro to pace the field that includes Pegah Cam, Renuel Otero, John Escutin, Elias Falcis, Harold Garzon, Jeriel Losanes, Anthony Nueva, Brenz Porras, Jocel Secugal, Grace Porras, Danielle Magalona, Mae Siervo, Joshua Wong, Joseph Balajadia, Vicente Siva, Franz Saldo and Claudine Beloria.

Oswald Olvido, Shayne Herrera and Robert Javier remained in the title race in kiddies play, which drew 328 entries, with 3.5 points apiece.

Earlier, Sankie Simbulan, business and corporate communications manager of Pilipinas Shell, and Councilor Jerry Trenas, also the chair of Iloilo City Sports Council, made the ceremonial moves kicking off the two-day tournament, sanctioned by the Nat’l Chess Federation of the Phils and serving as the penultimate leg of a seven-stage nationwide elims which supports the empowerment of the youth as part of Pilipinas Shell’s overall Sustainable Development commitment.

Arellano, Tabada pace Shell Cebu chess tiff

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed John Bryll Arellano survived the rash of upsets that befell the other fancied bets in the juniors division while Kenneth John Tabada led the march of the favorites in the kiddies play of the 2009 Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships Central Visayas leg at SM City in Cebu City over the weekend.

Arellano toppled Maximo Dungog Jr., Kevin Codinera and Rogelio Clemente Jr. to tow 20 others with perfect scores after three rounds of play in the 20-and-under category of the event that drew a maximum field of 501 players.

But second seed Yves Christian Fiel, third ranked Godfrey Villamor along with a couple of others took stinging setbacks and failed to join Arellano in the lead heading into the last four rounds of the seven-round Swiss system tournament sponsored by Pilipinas Shell.

Khier Embrado stunned Fiel in the opening round then trounced Villamor in the third to join the leaders, who include James Torres, Jun Cauba, Joseph Fernandez, Kraig Quinain, Venancio Loyola Jr., Daryn Torres, Neil Ortiz, Michael Pagaran, Victor Alicaway Jr., Jay Sombillo, Bhell Ortiz, Mark Mendez, Alex Sombillo, Junel Tunacao, Bernardo Ruelo Jr., Eduard Pilapil, Reuben Reuyan, Edgar Macapos and Adrian Paraiso.

Gracing the opening of the two-day tournament, the fifth leg of a seven-stage nationwide circuit, were Ricky Altonaga, Pilipinas Shell retail district manager for Visayas and Regelle Pelayo, Cebu City SK Federation president, who did the ceremonial moves.

Tabada, meanwhile, crushed Chris Estreba, Vic Derotas and Rhona Canoy to lead 30 others in the 14-and-under class of the tournament under the Shell Active Chess program, which supports the empowerment of the youth as part of the company’s overall Sustainable Development commitment.

Tabada tops Shell kiddies division

KIDDIES Division top seed Kenneth John Tabada of Tagum National Trade School of Tagum City lived up to his lofty billing as he remained undefeated to rule the Kiddies Division of the Shell National Youth Active Chess championships in SM City yesterday.

Tabada defeated 10-year old Tristan Frech Ibaoc of the Corpus Christi Grade School of Cagayan de Oro City in the seventh round for his seventh straight win.

Jethro Esplanada and Jeazzier Kline Surposa scored 6.5 points for a share of second place, while Cebu’s best, 10-year-old Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano of Southwestern University finished third after collecting two draws for 6.0 points.

Marq Gabrielle Balbona of the University of San Jose-Recoletos, John Francis and Felix Shaun Balbona of Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion also finished with six points, along with four others.