Sevilleno out to claim Shell chess national title

UNIVERSITY of San Carlos-Basic Education Department's Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano has been denied the title for four straight years.

Now on his fifth appearance in the 20th Shell National Active Youth Chess Championships, Sevillano, the lone qualifier to score a perfect game in the entire qualifying tournaments, hopes to finally bring home the elusive title when the grand finals takes place today in SM Megamall.

Sevillano, is highly motivated going into this tournament after sweeping all his nine opponents in the qualifying round in Davao City. Aside from this, he is also inspired by the crowning of his uncle Enrico as a chess Grandmaster.

He will be joined by the other Cebuano qualifier Christian Klent Pondoyo of the University of Cebu, who will make his finals debut in the annual chess tournaments.

Sevillano and Pondoyo will battle the qualifiers from NCR —Carlo Caranyagan of Arellano University and Mark James Marcellana of the University of Sto. Tomas and those from Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon.

In the local front, with Sevillano out of the picture, Lapu-Lapu’s Allan Pasons is tipped to dominate the Goodwill Gallery Kiddies Open tournament, which will start today at the Goodwill Gallery in J Center Mall.