Eight regions are represented in the two-day event sponsored by Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. as the top three finishers in both divisions of the grueling five-month, nationwide eliminations from as far north as Tuguegarao and down south in Cagayan de Oro mix it up in the 9-round Swiss system tournament long regarded as the spawning ground of chess talents in the country. Franz Robert Grafil, the 11-year-old find from Colegio de San Pascual Baylon in Bulacan who became the first player to score a sweep in the annual event in the Northern Luzon leg in Tuguegarao, heads the field in the kiddies category (14-under) along with other perfect scorers of the other regional qualifiers - Yves Fiel and Lennon Salgados (Visayas leg in Cebu), Kitz Albelar and Jose Mari Sepanton (Visayas leg in Iloilo) and Jerwell Andoy, Clark Kent Anabieza and Jeffrey Jay Alonday (Mindanao leg in Davao). Jose Roble Jr. of University of San Jose-Recoletos and Ellan Asuela of Domingo Lacson Nat'l Highschool, who also swept the Visayas legs in Cebu and Iloilo, lead the crack field in the juniors division (20-and-under) along with veteran campaigners Froilan Bolico and Christian Arroyo, who topped the Tuguegarao and Batangas elims, respectively.
A total of 3,524 players took part in this year's staging of the annual event put up by Pilipinas Shell in their continuing effort to help develop the sport and provide the young players a venue where they could further hone their talent and skills. Davao attracted 766 participants, Cebu, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, and National Capital Region each gathered 500 players. Baguio and Batangas, which made their return as hosts of the event that has produced that likes of Grandmasters Mark Paragua and Nelson Mariano II, lured 317 and 203 fields, respectively while 238 players saw action in the Tuguegarao leg. Competition is expected to be fierced with P30,000 plus trophy staked in the juniors division and P20,000 to the winner in the kiddies category of the event backed by Shell Better Mileage Gasolines , Accel, Cebu Pacific, McDonald's Philippines, and Shellane in cooperation with SM Supermalls, Gaisano Mall (Davao City) and Lim Ketkai Mall (Cagayan de Oro City) and held under the auspices of the National Chess Federation of the Phils. The other finalists include (juniors) Dino Ballecer, Omar Bagalacsa and Melvin Palomata (NCR); Eugene Pimentel, Vic Neil Villanueva and Jayson Salubre (Northern Luzon-Baguio); Arnold Dableo and Mark Ingcad (Northern Luzon-Tuguegarao); Jonathan Campo and Mark Almazol (Southern Luzon-Batangas); Kim Steven Yap and Zilberstein Torres (Visayas-Cebu); Reginald dela Pena and Eric Abanco (Visayas-Iloilo); Jay Bulicatin, Bryan Jose and Randolph Dalauta (Mindanao-Davao); Rodolfo Calonia Jr., Paulo James Florendo and Jimson Bitoon (Mindanao-Cagayan de Oro); (kiddies) Narquingden Reyes, Loren Brigham Laceste and Mari Joseph Turqueza (NCR); Jude Emil Fronda, Amra Ezra Rivas and John Ranel Morazo ( Northern Luzon-Baguio); Haridas Pascua and Jan Jodilyn Fronda (Northern Luzon-Tuguegarao); Karl Victor Ochoa, Ywen Lababo and Wilbert Pilarta (Southern Luzon-Batangas); Joel Pimentel (Visayas-Cebu); Jay Ginancial ( Visayas-Iloilo); Patrick Erle Florendo, Joey Albert Florendo and Shieder Nebato (Mindanao-Cagayan de Oro).
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