The best phrase that would describe our young chess players, not only from Baguio City, but also from different parts of Luzon: La Union, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Cavite, NCR and as far as Sorsogon, as they vied for the top positions in the first out-of-town leg of the 14th year of Shell National Youth Active Chess last July 8 and 9 in SM City Baguio Lower Atrium. Not even the 15°C temperature of Baguio and the tail of the reported storm could hinder these young minds in showcasing their chess skills.
Among the three hundred and eighteen chess players, two Manileños, Nelson Mariano III and Mari Joseph Turqueza, emerged as the conquerors of the junior and kiddies divisions respectively.
Mayor Braulio D. Yaranon, Baguio City Mayor, and Mr. Raul Molintas, Director of the National Chess Federation graced the opening ceremonies, with Mr. John Arnaldo, Business and Corporate Communications Manager of Pilipinas Shell.
 
(left photo) Raul Molintas giving his opening remarks. (right photo) Mayor Braulio Yaranon and Raul Molintas did the ceremonial moves to officially open the tournament, witnessed by John Arnaldo and Alden Espanillo.
Arnaldo gave an emphasis in his opening remarks to the players to finish the seven rounds, and not giving up easily. On the other hand, Raul Molintas lauded Pilipinas Shell’s continuous service in molding and helping the Filipino youth finding their strengths and developing their skills through the Shell National Youth Active Chess.
(from left to right) Pilipinas Shell Business and Corporate Communications Manager John Arnaldo, the winners of the juniors division Herman Vallente (second runner up), Nelson Mariano III (champion), and Luigi James Laking (first runner up), Baguio City Sports Coordinator Edison Villafuerte, and Pilipinas Shell General Manager for External Affairs Roberto Kanapi.
Nelson Mariano III (from the University of the East), straight from Manila, excelled in the juniors division with a slight “win-over” advantage against Baguio’s bet, Luigi James Laking. He topped among the 89 other chess players from different parts of Luzon with the score of six points and 33.5 Bucholz. In the kiddies division, another Manileño, Mari Joseph Turqueza, emerged as the champ among the other 217 chess players with an almost perfect score of six point five with 33.25 Bucholz. Both Mariano and Turqueza have guaranteed seats in the finals which will be held on October 22-23 in SM North Edsa.
(from left to right) Pilipinas Shell Business and Corporate Communications Manager John Arnaldo, the winners of the kiddies division Jan Emmanuel Garcia (first runner up), Mari Joseph Turqueza (champion), and Malone Chavez (second runner up), Baguio City Sports Coordinator Edison Villafuerte, and Pilipinas Shell General Manager for External Affairs Roberto Kanapi.
It was a tough seventh round for Nelson Mariano III because this was his concluding game against Luigi James Laking. Everyone at the SM Lower Atrium felt the pressure between these two players.
Other players in the kiddies division who qualified for finals were, San Beda’s Jan Emmanuel Garcia (first runner up) with six point five points and 28.75 Bucholz and Malone Chavez (second runner up), from Baguio City National High School with the same score and Bucholz. In the juniors division, natives of the North, Luigi James Laking of the Cordillera College (first runner up) with six points and 32.5 Bucholz and Herman Vallente of the University of Baguio (second runner up) with the same points and 32 Bucholz, grabbed the other two seats for finals.
As expected, chess teams from the north got the school most represented awards, Baguio City National High School in the kiddies division with 16 players and St. Louis University of Baguio City in the juniors division with 13 players.
Whereas on the other hand, a Manileño and Manileña grabbed the individual special awards. The youngest player award was given to Andrew Sopungco of Lourdes School of Mandaluyong, aged five years old and 8 days. He was also a candidate of the same award during the NCR leg, but he was five months older than the winner. The top female player was given to Mikee Charlene Suede of Pitogo Elementary School with six poitns and 32.5 Bucholz.
 
Youngest player awardee Andrew Sopungco aged five years old (left photo) and top female player awardee Mikee Charlene Suede with John Arnaldo, Chief Arbiter Gene Poliarco, Edison Villafuerte and Roberto Kanapi (right photo). In the closing ceremonies, John Arnaldo, Baguio City Sports Coordinator Edison Villafuerte, and Roberto Kanapi presented the awards to the winners. Each winners from the respective divisions received individual trophies and cash prizes.
The sponsors of the 14th Shell National Youth Active Chess Champonship are Shell Better Mileage Gasolines, Shell Diesoline Ultra, Shellane, McDonald’s and Cebu Pacific. The staging of the annual Shell chess tourney is in cooperation with SM Supermalls and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
The next leg is set in Tuguegarao City, on July 22-23, 2006 at the People’s Gymnasium. [Kay Eser] |
