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Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Salcedo stuns Nat'l Shell Active kiddies champion
* Cuizon wins, Salgados holds No.4 seed Laceste to draw
MANDALUYONG CIT -- Salay pride Richelieu Salcedo III shocked reigning 2005 National Shell Active kiddies champion Sheider Nebato of General Santos City with a sound tactics of a King's Indian duel in the third round.
The bad news, however, was the twin defeat of Salcedo and fellow 16-under campaigner Randolph Dalauta in the fateful fourth round of the 2006 National Age-Group chess championship at St. Francis Square building.
Making up for CDO-Misor's first debacle in the nine-round Swiss system eliminations are the emotional win of 16-under girls' entry Lorelie Cuizon against incoming FEU (Far Eastern University) senior varsity player Ronna Reigner Senora, also of Gensan, and the 65-move fighting draw earned by the 12-year-old Lennon Hart Salgados in his tough duel with No.4 seed and national juniors qualifier Loren Brigham Laceste on board 3.
"Na one pawn down ko niya. Fighting spirit lang nga nakatabla pa," said Salgados who now amassed 3.5 points after four rounds. Bonded at 3 points each in their respective age brackets are Cuizon (2 draws, 2 wins), Salcedo (3 wins, one loss) and Dalauta (3 wins, one loss).
"But it's still a long way to go. Taas kaayo ang round so, didto na mahibal-an sa may seventh round ang chances sa mga players nga mo-qualify sa single round robin finals," said CDO-based chesser Rey Abbu who is in Manila to look for a job.
The fast-moving Salcedo, who earlier forced the resignation of Nebato in a hopeless position, suffered his first defeat at the hands of perennial rival from Davao, James Bulicatin. While Dalauta was saddled no end by a weak Nb8 move to lose by time forfeit against Adrian Perez.
"Kadto ra gyod nga move ang dahilan nga naipit akong piyesa. Pero sige lang bawi lang ta sa sunod nga round," said Dalauta, the country's 14-under representative in the 2003 Asian Youth Chess Championship in Singapore.
For the meantime, the 19-year-old pair of Brian Jose and Loreshyl Cuizon--CDO-Misor's qualifiers in the National Junior Finals set on May 27 to June 4 at same venue -- have agreed to prepare together for the big war ahead.
"Dako sab gyod hinoon og makatabang ang laptop ni Chikay (Cuizon's nickname) kay bug-at kaayo ang mga kontra sa finals. Hinoon, ma-feel nako nga naa koy chance nga mo-champion," said Jose, who bested a 333-man field to rule the National Junior eliminations here some two weeks ago.
The older Cuizon has already been seeded to the women's junior finals. "I-try gyod nako akong best nga mo-top sa juniors kay naglaway gyod ko nga wala ni-qualify sa ongoing nga World Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy," Cuizon told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
If plans will not miscarry, the national junior qualifiers will be sent by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines under new NCFP head Congressman Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. of Surigao del Sur to Russia while the age-group survivors will be pitting wits later this year somewhere in Italy.
(May 24, 2006 issue)
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