|
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Oro Shell chess rivalry on
By Lynde Salgados
* Around 500 chessers pitting wits in kiddies and junior divisions
METRO Cagayan Chess Club did produce at least four national qualifiers in the previous legs. Can it have more now that it will be hosting a number of visitors seeking to outwit the home ground bets?
That will be unraveled when the Cagayan de Oro leg of the 2005 Shell National Youth Active chess championship gets underway today at the spacious rotunda (ground floor) of the state-of-the-art Limketkai Mall.
Around 500 chessers from all over the country converge in the two-day chessfest, serving as the last qualifying phase for Shell's nationwide search for chess talents in the 14 and under and 20 and below categories.
Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno is invited to do the ceremonial moves with Kenneth Norman Honculada, a 7-year-old chess wonder from Xavier University Grade School.
Acting city vice mayor, Kagawad Simeon Licayan has also committed to grace the opening program, which starts at 11 am.
City Vice Mayor Michelle Tagarda Spiers and Kagawad Ed Cabanlas (both are still in Baguio as of this writing) also showed support to Shell chess event's return here after two years along with former city councilor in Speed-Pro Foundation's founding head, lawyer Hilario Roy Raagas.
They are to be welcomed by the sponsoring Shell Petroleum top brass Bobby Kanapi, Shell chess project director Aileen Duran and overall Shell chess overseer Alex Dinoy.
Sending an estimated combined total of 80 players, Xavier University and Kong Hua High School are closely disputing the honor of being the school most represented in the only surviving youth-oriented chess development program of the country in larger scope.
Also fielding less than a dozen contingent each for the two-day seven-round Swiss system tourney are the chess-conscious cities of Zamboanga, Tangub, Davao, Iligan and the provinces of Bohol, Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental.
A stiff rivalry is deemed to mark the kiddies division with GenSan's Sheider Nebato, Davao's Danilo Engay Jr., Zambo's equally-strong Florendo brothers (Patrick and Joey) already confirming their participation.
Asian 14-under girls Rapid champion Jedara Docena of Bohol has yet to make her entry official.
With 12-year-old prodigy Lennon Hart Salgados already making the cut during the Visayas swing and Oro compatriot Jongjong Salcedo (double gold medalist in the last Batang Pinoy meet) unable to send feelers of joining the kiddies race, CDO's best chances to land a place are their junior bets such as Jan Vincent Cayaba, Danilo Obeso, Carlo Maraat, Ralph Dalauta and Rodolfo Calonia Jr., among others.
(October 2, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
|
