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Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Negrense wins in Shell National Chess tourney
By Reynan G. Sularan
ELLAN Asuela survived the pressure of fellow Negrense in round seven of the Junior Division to claim the best wood pusher crown in the Visayas leg of the 2005 Shell National Active Chess Tournament held last September 4 to 5 at SM City Iloilo.
This 17-year-old bet of Domingo Lacson National Elementary School was among the 500 chess enthusiasts coming from different schools in Western Visayas that joined in the said event.
Asuela continued his winning streak up to the last round.
Reginald De La Pena just needed half point to overtake Asuela in the winner's column. However, the 20 year-old West Negros College stalwart's first battle gave him a hard time to catch up with Asuela when the former scored 6.5 points.
Eric Abanco of the University of Negros Occidental, ranked third with six points and 33. 0 Bucholz while De La Pena's schoolmate, Leo Romitman followed with six points and 32.5 Bucholz.
In the Kiddies Division, 13-year-old Kritz Albelar of Lambunao National High School turned down all his rivals from round four to round seven to clinch the crown with seven points and 33.0 Bucholz.
Sepanton Elementary School's fast rising 11-year-old chess wizard finished in the same winnings with Albelar but Sepanton lost a Bucholz point while Jay Ganancial completed his seven round game with 6.5 points to rank third.
While Kevin Mirano secured the third spot, Ma. Josella fought nose and teeth to lift his total points to stay alive in the game. Fourteej-year-old Uy of West Negros College occupied the fourth slate and won the Top Female Player award.
Rorajay Capiz Balitaon of Jalandoni Memorial Elementary School, 6, received the Youngest Player award; San Jose Catholic School bagged the School Most Represented in the Kiddies Division award with 50 palyers; and Central Philippine University won the same award in the Juniors Division with 42 registrants.
Hon. Joe Espinosa, Chairman of the Iloilo City Sports Council, and Roberto Kanapi of Pilipinas Shell General Manager for External Affairs were overwhelmed with the response of other young chess hopefuls who missed the first-come-first-serve registration, which started last July.
Espinosa and Kanapi, both chess players, were more pleased when more participants joined despite the closing of the registraion.
Kanapi assured chess enthusiasts that next year, they would increase the number of participants to add more excitement and to discover future grandmasters.
The top three winners will be sent to Manila for the Grand Finals on October 15 to 16 at SM North Edsa.
(September 6, 2005 issue)
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