THE prestigious Shell Active Youth Chess Championships closed another memorable episode in its historic Grand Finals when a mere replacement to a "flood victim" qualifier surprisingly won the 2009 junior title in dramatic fashion.

John Ranel Morazo, a former FEU Tamaraw who had just transferred to the University of Baguio (UB), drew with 2007 kiddies champion Lennon Hart Salgados of Corpus Christi School (Cagayan de Oro) and then upset newly-minted National Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia of the Ateneo de Manila in the penultimate round en route to crowning himself as this year's Shell Grand Finals champion in the junior division.

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It was the 14-year-old Garcia, who defeated Salgados early in the third round, as the hands-down pick to rule the 20-under rivalry after which he registered a perfect 5 of 5 performance halfway through the 9-round Swiss system event.

But like a lightning bolt, the 19-year-old Morazo--who travelled all the way from Tarlac to hitch a ride in the Grand Finals--struck from behind to spoil Garcia's supposedly impending coronation.

A brilliant Rook sacrifice by Western University bet Bryll John Arellano that floored Garcia anew in the next round boosted Morazo's late-round surge to the top.

"It was really unexpected. Hindi naman kami kasali rito nagkataon lang. Mabuti na lang nakatawid pa kami from Tarlac to Manila sa tindi ng hagupit ni typhoon Pepeng," Morazo's pa, Juan, told Sun.Star.

"H'wag mong kalimutang mag-donate sa teammate mong naging biktima ng bagyo," tournament director Alexander Dinoy later reminded Morazo.

Morazo, who scored a stunning victory against Chinese Grandmaster Li Shilong in the just-held Philippine Open International Chess Tournament, was a last-minute replacement of Tuguegarao leg top qualifier Leonardo Abalos Jr. who begged to skip the national championship after the devastation of tropical storm "Pepeng."

For his Cinderella finish, Morazo amassed 7 points for solo first place that made him P30,000 richer.

Garcia settled for second place at 6.5 points, while Arellano and Garcia's fellow Atenean Mari Joseph Turqueza got 6 points each for third and fourth places.

They received P20,000 and P15,000 apiece also with giant King-shaped trophies.

Cagayan de Oro compatriots Salgados, 16, and Richelieu "Jongjong" Salcedo III, 18, both pummeled San Beda stalwart Jayson Mercado, even as the three of them ended up in a tie at 5.5 points.

But the complexity of the Bucholz tiebreak had the flamboyant Mercado capturing instead the fifth place finish worth P7,500.

"Tinalo nilang dalawa si Jayson ngunit hindi nagkatagpo si Lennon at Salcedo kaya't hindi ma-apply ang immediate encounter na rule sa tiebreaking. Hindi na-ikot ang labanan sa tatlo at pinalad ang huli na mataas ang tiebreak sa Bucholz," explained International arbiter Gene Poliarco.

In fact, Mercado--with his superior tiebreak points--would have dislodged Garcia from the second spot had he beaten Salgados in the 9th and final round. But the Cagayan de Oro ace never let up in scoring another triumph over Mercado since the NCR leg elimination.

Like Morazo, the then Asean Age-Group Vietnam silver medalist Salgados was just a last-minute "filler" of the entry sheets when he topped the superbly tough NCR leg qualifying games.

"Sayang, puro winning ilang dula. Either ma-flag down or ma-panic time blunder si Lennon, Jongjong, maski na si Dodoy. Wala mabentaha-an sa talent mas preparado lang tingali ang kontra," observed the elder Richelieu "Totong" Salcedo Sr. in also citing another Cagayanon, Randolph Christopher Dalauta of Rizal Technology University (RTU), who was slowed down at 3.5 points after committing a series of blunders in obviously winning positions.

The other Corpus Christi hopeful Jayson Chezter Coquilla, meanwhile, managed 4 points in his Shell debut as Cagayan de Oro's only qualifier in the 14-under kiddies category.

"We're just hoping nga magpadayon ang suporta ni Mayor Tinnex Jaraula and Vice Mayor Vicente Emano sa chess especially sa Asset-clinic being supervised by Woman National Master Cecile Cuizon kay dili lang unya upat ang mo-qualify sa Shell Grand Finals pinaagi sa makanonayon nga pagbansay-bansay," said Lennon's father who also expressed thanks to forbearing friends in local sports community such as brothers Roly and Robert Tan, Mel Heruela, Edu Alaba, Danny Velez, Anton Pabillore and Andy Calingin, among others, for their unwavering support. (LLS)