KYLE Bantol and Joey Florendo swept their first three games to lead their respective divisions in the opening day of the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship Visayas leg last Saturday at the SM City Cebu.
Florendo defeated Jonas Conel in the kiddies division, while Bantol won with the black over Ray Dominguez in the third round. He currently leads the juniors category in the first half of the seven-round Swiss system tournament sponsored by Pilipinas Shell, Shell Fuels, Shellane, Shell Helix, Shell Rimula, Shell Advance and McDonald’s.
Posting three points in the 20-Under division were Douglas Perez, Adrian Valparaiso, Denver Ruaya and Ritchie Abayan, along with 22 other wood pushers.
Sharing the top spot in the 14-Under division are 31 players including with Marvie Abucay, Kaiser Masalta, Eric Misterio, and Airene Robillos.
The tournament is held in cooperation with SM Supermalls, LCC Mall—Naga, Brickstone Mall—Tuguegarao City and Western Mindanao State University.
During the opening ceremony, Mich Cruz, the government and media relations manager of Pilipinas Shell, and Cebu City councilor Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem made the ceremonial moves, which officially kicked off the two-day event.
The competition, which served as the fifth leg of the nationwide circuit, drew a record field of 500 players, including 282 entries in the kiddies division.
Meanwhile, Pilipinas Shell decided to cancel the Zamboanga leg, which was supposed to be held on Sept. 27-28.
Interested participants are urged to register for the Davao leg instead.
The Davao event will be on Sept. 13-14 at the Entertainment Plaza of SM City Davao.
The top four players in the kiddies and juniors divisions will join the other top finishers from the other legs, where they battle each other in the grand finals slated on Nov. 8-9 at SM Megamall.
For details, contact leg coordinator NA Ronnie Tabudlong at 0929-2407371. (PR)
