CEBUANO woodpushers faltered in the 25th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship grand finals held at the SM Mall of Asia in Metro Manila last weekend.
The champions of the Cebu leg, Jethro Esplanada, Allan Pason, Chris Aldritz Pondoyo, Alphecca Gonzales, Jerish John Velarde and Edelyn Vosotros, all came up short in the two-day tournament that served as the last and final chess tournament to be organized by Pilipinas Shell after it decided to end the tournament after 25 years.
Esplanada placed second to Jeth Romy Morado in the seniors division after nine rounds of competition.
Both scored 7.0 points along with eventual third placer Ahmad Ali Azota, but Morado had a higher tie break score to clinch the title.
Pason placed seventh in the division with 5.0 points.
In the juniors division, Pondoyo and Gonzales landed at 10th and 11th places, respectively, with 3.5 points each.
World Chess Federation Master (WCM) Kyle Mordido topped the division with 8.0 points while FIDE Master Stephen Rome Pangilinan placed second and Julius Gonzales at third both with 6.5 points.
Velarde and Vosotros salvaged ninth and 11th places, respectively, in the kiddies division with 4.0 points each.
David Rey Ancheta placed first with 8.0 points.