Jerish John Velarde makes his winning move against Emmanuel Cababan in the kiddies category of the 2016 Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship at SM City Cebu. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
THE 24th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships-Visayas Leg got off to a successful opening yesterday with a massive turnout of 300 participants from various cities and provinces in the Visayas at the SM City Cebu Event Center.
Yesterday’s first four rounds saw seniors division defending champion Adrian Dela Cruz of Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental in the lead with 4.0 points while Cebuanos Diego Abraham Claro, Vincent Balena and Vincent De Guzman of the University of San Carlos (USC) also won their first four matches but settled for 2nd to 4th spots due to inferior tie break points.
In the 4th round, Dela Cruz, an engineering student of Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) defeated Joshua Panes while Claro won over teammate Laila Camel Nadera. Balena edged USJ-R’s Felix Shaun Balbona and De Guzman defeated USJ-R’s Allan Pason.
The tournament’s remaining three rounds will be played today.
In the juniors division (13-16 years old), University of Cebu’s (UC) Chris Aldritz Pondoyo grabbed the lead with 4.0 points. His teammate Adrian Basilgo and USJ-R’s Glybel Jane Quiñanola are in second and third spots also with four points.
In the kiddies division (7-12 years old) Jave Mareck Peteros leads other 4.0 pointers Arje Villarin, Jerish John Velarde and Glenn Bernaldez.
Meanwhile, Melanie Bularan, Shell Social Investment Manager said during her opening ceremony speech that Shell continues to support this program to build values, discipline, hard work and persistence.
“Shell has been helping the nation through this tournament. We have been in the country for more than a hundred years and we are proud to say that our Shell Active Chess program has been here for 24 years,” said Bularan.
The event’s awarding is set at 3 p.m. today. The champions in each division will qualify for the national finals set later this year in Manila.