 The two-day chess tournament kicked off in the National Capital Region, which saw action among 500 young wood pushers who battled for seats in the grand finals. Pilipinas Shell General Manager for External Affairs Roberto Kanapi (left) and Grand Master Eugene Torre (right)led the ceremonial moves to officially launch this year’s chess tournament witnessed by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Administrative Manager and International Arbiter Gene Poliarco and chess participants. Chairman of the Manila Sports Council Ali Atieza (right photo)also graced the event and gave an inspirational message to all the chess participants. Other grand finalists were Omar Bagalacsa (1st place) of UP Diliman and Melvin Palomata (2nd place) of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde for the juniors division. In the kiddies division, grand finalists were Loren Brigham Laceste (1st place) of Letran College and Mari Joseph Turqueza (2nd place) of Ramon Magsaysay High School. Other kiddies’ winners were Richelieu Salcedo III (3rd place) of Rizal Technological University and Ferdinand Reyes Jr. (4th place) of Bloomfield Academy. In the Juniors division, Menard De Ocampo of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde and Christian Arroyo won 3rd and 4th place respectively. Special awards were also given to the following: School Most Represented in the kiddies division was awarded to Sto. Nino Elementary School in Marikina City with 19 chess players while Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School was accorded with the award for the juniors division with 47 participants for the chess tourney. Overall Top Female player award went to Jan Jodilyn Fronda of Philippine Christian University-Manila while Alexis Suede, only four years and 6 months old, was hailed as NCR Leg’s youngest chess player.Pilipinas Shell Government Relations Manager Bobby Malabanan and International Master Rodolfo Tan Cardozo, who is the first Asian International Master, presented the awards to the winners. Each winner in the respective divisions received individual trophies and cash prizes. NCR Leg grand finalists with (left) Bobby Malabanan and IM Rodolfo Tan Cardozo during the awarding ceremony. The event was sponsored by Accel, McDonald’s, Cebu Pacific, Shellane, Shell Better Mileage Gasolines: Shell Super Unleaded, Shell Super Premium, and Shell Velocity, in cooperation with SM Supermalls, Gaisano Mall of Davao, and Lim Ket Kai Center. The next leg of the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship is slated on July 9-10, 2005 at SM City in Baguio City.
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