Sunday, September 18, 2005
Nebato wins, Engay falls
By Marianne L. Saberon
TOP-seed Scheider Nebato of General Santos City beat his first round rival, but Davao City bet Danilo Engay Jr. suffered an upset in the opener of the 2005 Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship Mindanao-Davao leg at the Gaisano Mall of Davao atrium Saturday.
Nebato, a 13-year-old student of the Holy Trinity College, outclassed Michael Louis Herrera after 14 moves of a Center Counter opening in their kiddies match.
Engay, who is a mainstay of Osmeña Elementary School, succumbed to seven-year-old wonder Kenneth Norman Honculada of Cagayan de Oro City.
"I hope to win this tournament or perhaps make it to the first three so I can play in the national finals", Nebato told Sun.Star Davao after the rousing win that took only a few minutes.
He could be mistaken as a girl as he sported a braided long hair. When asked why he kept it long, he smiled saying: "Gusto ko lang po (I just want to)".
The General Santos standout is seeing action in the Shell meet for the fifth time.
"Nanalo napo ako dalawang beses sa leg pero hindi pa ako nananalo sa national finals (I've topped two legs in the past but I haven't won in the national finals)", he added.
Honculada, playing the black pieces, made use of his rook, bishop and two pawns to outwit Engay who was then left with a rook and six points in the endgame.
Other first round winners were Honorio Hilario, Ryan Dexter Hofelena, Mary Israel Palero, Lucky Leo Aton, Ruel Canaveras, Dawn Grace Pacana, Patrick Miguel Aquino, John Carl Aunso, Jandee Bon Infiesto, Eric Idpalina, James Elisan, John Gerald Acedo, Nigel Isugan, Jason Rojo, Kent Janolino, Ademar Toleran Jr., Lee Jean Ababa, Rhyan Jay Abejuela, Michael Abellera, Darrel Abello, Gene May-An Juruena, Seth Sande Jusay, Adrian Acas, Rowelyn Joy Acedo, Jopher Kim Adle, Vengie and Venjo Lagrimas, among others.
A total of 766 players entered the two-day event sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and sponsored by Pilipinas Shell.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (September 18, 2005 issue)
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