Thursday, September 11, 2008 Corpus stude among favorites in Davao
A TOTAL of 441 woodpushers signed up to compete in the kiddies division of the 2008 Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships Davao leg set on Saturday and Sunday at the SM City Davao events centre.
The juniors category recorded 153 registrants as of Tuesday.
Twelve-year-old Fide Master John Ray Batucan of Dona Juan dela Cruz Elementary School in Toril, Davao City and Chezter Coquilla of Corpus Christi School in Cagayan de Oro City are among the heavy favorites in the kiddie event.
Coquilla's compatriot in 15-year-old Lennon Hart Salgados was the first Cagayan de Oro bet to advance in the Shell grand finals. This, after Salgados -- last year's National Shell kiddies champion -- hurdled the first phase of the Visayas elimination in Cebu City, tying for first with two others in the 20-under junior category.
Other noted players are National Trade School's Kenneth John Tabada and Sped Integrated School of General Santos' Jeazzir Kline Surposa along with University of Mindanao's Alvin Acas and Denzyl John Amar, Jose Maria College's siblings John Gerard and Rowelyn Joy Acedo, Panabo National High School's Clark Kent Anabieza, Stella Maris Academy of Davao's Josev Omar and Patrick Miguel Aquino, and Do¤a Pilar Learning Center's James Rhay Bantugan, among others.
West Negros University of Bacolod's Bryll John Arellano, Carmen National High School's Ronnel Alsado, Brikenshire College's Rodel Alsado, JMC brothers Jerwell and Jester Andoy, Western Mindanao Colleges' Joey Albert Florendo, and UM's Adrian Dimakiling are highly touted in the junior side.
Tournament coordinator Ronnie Tabudlong said the top three players in juniors 20-under and kiddies 14-under categories will advance to the grand finals that offers P30,000 for the junior champion and P20,000 for the kiddies ace.
The Davao leg top five junior chessers will receive P5,000, P4,000, P3,000, P2,000 and P1,000 while the first five kiddie players will pocket P4,000, P3,000, P2,000, P1,000 and P500.
The youngest player, top eight-year-old and under player, overall top female player, sportsmanship award, and school most represented awards will also be given away. (With MLSA)
